Abstract
In the conventional model of floodplain sediment accumulation, mechanisms of floodplain growth are differentiated into lateral and vertical accretion processes, in which within-channel deposits are capped by overbank deposits. In the high-energy, gravel-based Squamish River, sediments laid down on bar surfaces are composed of trough and planar crossbedded coarse sands. These sequences contrast incongruously with adjacent floodplain deposits which are composed in large part of vertically accreted fine sands atop coarse alluvial gravels. Using element analysis it is inferred that bar platform sediments are stripped away by chute channels, which are subsequently infilled with lower-energy deposits. From this, a model of floodplain growth based on selective preservation of bar platform sands and prefrential preservation of vertically accreted deposits is proposed. This mechanism of sediment replacement occurs independent of channel planform type.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 381-391 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Geomorphology |
| Volume | 4 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1992 |
| Externally published | Yes |