New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics abstracts
Fluvial responses to environmental change in the North Island, New
Zealand, during the past c. 30 ka recorded in river terrace sequences:
a review and model for river behaviour
Alastair J. H. Clement
Ian C. Fuller*
Geography Programme
School of People, Environment & Planning
Massey University
Private Bag 11222
Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
*Corresponding author: I.C.Fuller@massey.ac.nz
Abstract This paper presents a systematic review
and correlation of river terraces identified in 44 river catchments in
the North Island, New Zealand, to assess river behaviour over the last
c. 30 000 yr. This provides a comprehensive foundation from which to
assess controls on river dynamics over this critical period of
landscape development from the last glacial through to the present
interglacial. From this review, an integrated framework for elucidating
fluvial responses to environmental change is proposed. Sensitivity of
river systems to climate change is variable over this time-scale.
Substantial sediment inputs to valley floors during the last glacial
reduced sensitivity to subtle climatic shifts. Sensitivity increased
during the Holocene, with terraces forming in response to episodes of
storminess. Tectonics and volcanic activity may both override climatic
forcing to cause either cutting or filling of the valley floor.
Keywords river terrace; climate; tectonics;
volcanism; aggradation; degradation
G06033; Online publication date 24 April 2007; Received 20
October 2006; accepted 30 March 2007
New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 2007, Vol. 50:
101—116
0028—8306/07/5002—0101 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2007
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