Active Tectonics And Alluvial Rivers

The interactions between tectonic uplift, river erosion and alluvial deposition are fundamental processes which have acted to shape the landscape we sec today. These processes are of course ongoing, and are important not only in geomorphology, sedimentology and structural geology, but also hydrology and river engineering. Stan Schumm, Jean Dumont and John Holbrook have combined their respective specialities to provide an overview of the effect of active tectonics on river morphology, behavior, and sedimentology. Their book brings together evidence and a variety of examples front both field and experimental studies to demonstrate how alluvial rivers are responding to uplift, subsidence and lateral tilting. Such recognition of the nature of river response yields criteria for the identification of active tectonics elsewhere, especially in areas without a history of seismic activity, or in the stratigraphic record. Using river characteristics such as sinuosity, gradient, and behavior to identify areas of active deformation can bc of value in elucidating subsurface structure and in determining the cause of local flooding and problems of river stability of some of the world's great rivers, such as the Mississippi, Nile and Indus. This volume will be of interest to graduate students, consultants and academic researchers in geomorphology, sedimentology and stratigraphy, structural geology, hydrology, geophysics, and geography.