Research Paper GEOSPHERE Geomorphic response to catastrophic flooding in north-central Pennsylvania from Tropical Storm Lee (September 2011): GEOSPHERE; v. 12, no. 1 Intersection of fluvial disequilibrium and the legacy of logging doi:10.1130/GES01180.1 R. Craig Kochel1, Benjamin R. Hayes2, Jason Muhlbauer1, Zac Hancock1, and Darin Rockwell1 32 figures; 6 tables; 7 supplemental files 1Department of Geology & Environmental Geosciences, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania 17837, USA 2Bucknell Center for Sustainability & the Environment, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania 17837, USA CORRESPONDENCE:
[email protected] ABSTRACT floodplain elevations which promoted avulsion and chute formation. Based CITATION: Kochel, R.C., Hayes, B.R., Muhlbauer, on preflood and postflood geomorphic mapping, >6,700,000 m3 of gravel were J., Hancock, Z., and Rockwell, D., 2016, Geomor- phic response to catastrophic flooding in north- More than 25 cm of rainfall from Tropical Storm Lee (TS Lee) over 2 days mobilized during the flood across 4 watersheds. Mobilization of logging leg- central Pennsylvania from Tropical Storm Lee (Sep- in September 2011 resulted in catastrophic flooding (U.S. Geological Survey acy sediment is occurring as pulses of gravel move downstream episodically. tember 2011): Intersection of fluvial disequilibrium estimated recurrence interval >100 yr) on several Susquehanna River tribu- This paper demonstrates the important influences of drainage basin mor- and the legacy of logging: Geosphere, v. 12, no. 1, p. 305–345, doi:10.1130/GES01180.1. taries emanating from the Appalachian Plateau in north-central Pennsylvania phometry (e.g., ruggedness number) and fluvial history (land use and geo- (USA). Helicopter photography and field work were used to prepare a detailed morphic) in understanding current channel dynamics and basin response to Received 13 February 2015 geographic information system database of geomorphic response to the flood heavy precipitation and flooding.