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Spatiotemporal analysis of channel wall erosion in ephemeral torrents using tree roots—An example from the Patagonian Andes

2012; Geological Society of America; Volume: 40; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1130/g32751.1

1943-2682

Markus Stoffel, Alejandro Casteller, Brian H. Luckman, Ricardo Villalba,

Tree Root and Stability Studies

Research Article| March 01, 2012 Spatiotemporal analysis of channel wall erosion in ephemeral torrents using tree roots—An example from the Patagonian Andes Markus Stoffel; Markus Stoffel * 1Laboratory of Dendrogeomorphology, Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 1+3, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland2Chair for Climatic Change and Climate Impacts, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, Chemin de Drize 7, CH-1226 Carouge-Geneva, Switzerland *E-mail: markus.stoffel@dendrolab.ch. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Alejandro Casteller; Alejandro Casteller 1Laboratory of Dendrogeomorphology, Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 1+3, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland3Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales (IANIGLA), Avenida Ruiz Leal s/n, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Brian H. Luckman; Brian H. Luckman 4Department of Geography, University of Western Ontario, Social Science Building, London N6A 5C2, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ricardo Villalba Ricardo Villalba 3Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales (IANIGLA), Avenida Ruiz Leal s/n, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Markus Stoffel * 1Laboratory of Dendrogeomorphology, Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 1+3, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland2Chair for Climatic Change and Climate Impacts, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, Chemin de Drize 7, CH-1226 Carouge-Geneva, Switzerland Alejandro Casteller 1Laboratory of Dendrogeomorphology, Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 1+3, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland3Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales (IANIGLA), Avenida Ruiz Leal s/n, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina Brian H. Luckman 4Department of Geography, University of Western Ontario, Social Science Building, London N6A 5C2, Canada Ricardo Villalba 3Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales (IANIGLA), Avenida Ruiz Leal s/n, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina *E-mail: markus.stoffel@dendrolab.ch. Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 16 Aug 2011 Revision Received: 12 Oct 2011 Accepted: 17 Oct 2011 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2012 Geological Society of America Geology (2012) 40 (3): 247–250. https://doi.org/10.1130/G32751.1 Article history Received: 16 Aug 2011 Revision Received: 12 Oct 2011 Accepted: 17 Oct 2011 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Markus Stoffel, Alejandro Casteller, Brian H. Luckman, Ricardo Villalba; Spatiotemporal analysis of channel wall erosion in ephemeral torrents using tree roots—An example from the Patagonian Andes. Geology 2012;; 40 (3): 247–250. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G32751.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract This paper presents absolute ages for flash floods and related sediment entrainment in headwater catchments to construct a spatiotemporal framework of process dynamics and locations of major areas of channel wall erosion. The most reliable method for dating erosion is through dendrogeomorphic studies of exposed tree roots. Based on the analysis of erosion signals in root-ring records we documented a time series of channel wall erosion and successfully dated 21 erosive flash flood events since A.D. 1870 in an ephemeral gully in the Patagonian Andes. The study was performed with roots from Austrocedrus chilensis, Nothofagus dombeyi, and Pseudotsuga menziesii. Results demonstrate the potential of root analyses for the determination of major areas of sediment entrainment. In addition, we show that the position of damage within individual root rings allows inferences about the seasonal timing of flash flood effects and thus an assessment of possible meteorological triggers of erosive events, short intense storms occurring primarily in austral fall and late winter in this case. The approach presented adds significantly to the documentation of sediment entrainment and facilitates identification of areas of rapid erosion in small, remote headwater catchments with ephemeral flash flood activity. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.