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The effects of deforestation on slope and channel evolution in the tectonically active Darjeeling Himalaya
Author(s) -
Froehlich Wojciech,
Starkel Leszek
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
earth surface processes and landforms
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.294
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1096-9837
pISSN - 0197-9337
DOI - 10.1002/esp.3290180309
Subject(s) - aggradation , geology , geomorphology , colluvium , fault scarp , quaternary , alluvium , bedrock , deforestation (computer science) , mass movement , tectonics , paleontology , landslide , fluvial , structural basin , computer science , programming language
The main indicators of Quaternary tectonic uplift are the young mountain slopes of the Darjeeling Himalaya, rising straight above the Ganga–Brahmaputra foredeep, fragments of uplifted river terraces and fresh fault scarps. Evidence for the continuation of the uplift includes downcutting of the Tista and other straight rivers in the bedrock, continuing aggradation in the plains and overriding of the metamorphic rocks on the alluvia. Owing to deforestation and extensive land use, the earlier natural tendency of a dominance of channel incision over slope degradation has changed to prevailing aggradation, even in steep valley reaches, caused by intensive slope mass movements and the overloading of the mountain creeks. Aggradation progresses upstream along the rivers dissecting the mountain front.