Understanding Braided River Landform Development Over Decadal Time Scale: Soil and Groundwater As Controls on Biogeomorphic Succession

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Understanding Braided River Landform Development Over Decadal Time Scale: Soil and Groundwater As Controls on Biogeomorphic Succession Unicentre CH-1015 Lausanne http://serval.unil.ch RYear : 2016 Understanding braided river landform development over decadal time scale: soil and groundwater as controls on biogeomorphic succession. Bätz Nico Bätz Nico, 2016, Understanding braided river landform development over decadal time scale: soil and groundwater as controls on biogeomorphic succession. Originally published at : Thesis, University of Lausanne Posted at the University of Lausanne Open Archive http://serval.unil.ch Document URN : urn:nbn:ch:serval-BIB_CB468C1D42D59 Droits d’auteur L'Université de Lausanne attire expressément l'attention des utilisateurs sur le fait que tous les documents publiés dans l'Archive SERVAL sont protégés par le droit d'auteur, conformément à la loi fédérale sur le droit d'auteur et les droits voisins (LDA). A ce titre, il est indispensable d'obtenir le consentement préalable de l'auteur et/ou de l’éditeur avant toute utilisation d'une oeuvre ou d'une partie d'une oeuvre ne relevant pas d'une utilisation à des fins personnelles au sens de la LDA (art. 19, al. 1 lettre a). A défaut, tout contrevenant s'expose aux sanctions prévues par cette loi. Nous déclinons toute responsabilité en la matière. Copyright The University of Lausanne expressly draws the attention of users to the fact that all documents published in the SERVAL Archive are protected by copyright in accordance with federal law on copyright and similar rights (LDA). Accordingly it is indispensable to obtain prior consent from the author and/or publisher before any use of a work or part of a work for purposes other than personal use within the meaning of LDA (art. 19, para. 1 letter a). Failure to do so will expose offenders to the sanctions laid down by this law. We accept no liability in this respect. UNIVERSITY OF LAUSANNE FACULTY OF GEOSIENCE AND ENVIRONEMNT INSTITUTE OF EARTH SURFACE DYNAMICS Understanding braided river landform development over decadal time scale: soil and groundwater as controls on biogeomorphic succession Ph.D. thesis presented at the Faculty of Geoscience and Environment, University of Lausanne by Nico Bätz Dipl. Ing. Technische Universität Berlin (Germany) M.Sc. Wageningen University (Netherlands) To obtain the grade of Ph.D. in Geoscience and the Environment, mention "Geography" Jury Prof. Stuart N. Lane Thesis director Prof. Eric P. Verrecchia Thesis co-director Prof. Paolo Cherubini Expert Prof. Dov Corenblit Expert Dr. Géraldine Bullinger Expert Prof. Michel Jaboyedoff President of the jury LAUSANNE 2016 Understanding braided river landform development over decadal time scale: soil and groundwater as controls on biogeomorphic succession Ph.D. thesis Nico Bätz 2016 Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics, Faculty of Geoscience and Environment, University of Lausanne Building Géopolis, Quartier UNIL-Mouline CH-1015 Lausanne N. Bätz (2016), Understanding braided river landform development over decadal time scale: soil and groundwater as controls on biogeomorphic succession Originally published: Thesis, University of Lausanne Posted at the University of Lausanne Open Archive. http://serval.unil.ch Droits d’auteur L'Université de Lausanne attire expressément l'attention des utilisateurs sur le fait que tous les documents publiés dans l'Archive SERVAL sont protégés par le droit d'auteur, conformément à la loi fédérale sur le droit d'auteur et les droits voisins (LDA). A ce titre, il est indispensable d'obtenir le consentement préalable de l'auteur et/ou de l’éditeur avant toute utilisation d'une oeuvre ou d'une partie d'une oeuvre ne relevant pas d'une utilisation à des fins personnelles au sens de la LDA (art. 19, al. 1 lettre a). A défaut, tout contrevenant s'expose aux sanctions prévues par cette loi. Nous déclinons toute responsabilité en la matière. Copyright The University of Lausanne expressly draws the attention of users to the fact that all documents published in the SERVAL Archive are protected by copyright in accordance with federal law on copyright and similar rights (LDA). Accordingly it is indispensable to obtain prior consent from the author and/or publisher before any use of a work or part of a work for purposes other than personal use within the meaning of LDA (art. 19, para. 1 letter a). Failure to do so will expose offenders to the sanctions laid down by this law. We accept no liability in this respect. Contents List of Figures .............................................................................................................. v List of Tables ............................................................................................................. vii Acronyms and abbreviations ...................................................................................... ix Acknowledgements .................................................................................................... xi Summary .................................................................................................................. xiii Résumé ..................................................................................................................... xv 1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Biogeomorphic interactions in braided rivers ...................................................... 4 1.2 Thesis aim ................................................................................................................ 8 1.3 Contributions of the thesis ..................................................................................... 9 1.4 Thesis overview ..................................................................................................... 10 2 Decadal fluvial landform evolution ........................................................... 13 2.1 "The role of soil in vegetated gravelly river braid plains: more than just a passive response" ..................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................ 13 2.1.1 Abstract .......................................................................................................... 13 2.1.2 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 14 2.1.3 Biogeomorphological interactions in gravelly braid plains: a short review ...... 17 2.1.4 Early soil development in gravelly braid plains ............................................... 21 2.1.5 The coevolution of braid plain morphodynamics, vegetation succession and soil evolution ......................................................................................................... 33 2.1.6 Example: coevolution of landforms, soil and vegetation in the Allondon River ........................................................................................................................ 36 2.1.7 Summary and conclusion ............................................................................... 40 2.2 Research questions ............................................................................................... 44 3 Study site .................................................................................................... 47 3.1 Study sites requirements ...................................................................................... 47 3.2 “The Allondon River: an evolving piedmont river system” ............................... 49 3.2.1 Abstract .......................................................................................................... 49 i 3.2.2 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 49 3.2.3 Geographical setting ....................................................................................... 52 3.2.4 Hydro-geological setting ................................................................................. 54 3.2.5 The hydrology of the Allondon River ............................................................... 56 3.2.6 The geomorphology of the Allondon River ..................................................... 58 3.2.7 Geomorphic evolution of the Allondon River .................................................. 61 3.2.8 Conclusions .................................................................................................... 69 3.3 Study sites suitability ............................................................................................ 72 4 Soil evolution in braiding river systems .................................................. 73 4.1 “Organic matter processing and soil evolution in a braided river system” ..... 74 4.1.1 Abstract ........................................................................................................... 74 4.1.2 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 75 4.1.3 Material and methods ..................................................................................... 77 4.1.4 Results ............................................................................................................ 84 4.1.5 Discussion ...................................................................................................... 92 4.1.6 Conclusion .................................................................................................... 100 4.2 “Soil in braided rivers: an overlooked component
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