Morpho-sedimentary characteristics of Holocene paleochannels in the Upper Rhine alluvial plain, France

The French Upper Rhine alluvial plain is characterized by a complex system of paleochannels inherited from Late Glacial to Holocene fluvial dynamics of the Rhine and Ill river systems, among other smaller rivers. These paleochannels represent valuable archives for understanding and reconstructing th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Eiszeitalter und Gegenwart Vol. 71; no. 2; pp. 191 - 212
Main Authors:	Abdulkarim, Mubarak, Chapkanski, Stoil, Ertlen, Damien, Mahmood, Haider, Obioha, Edward, Preusser, Frank, Rambeau, Claire, Salomon, Ferréol, Schiemann, Marco, Schmitt, Laurent
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Hannover Copernicus GmbH 08-09-2022 German Quaternary Association (DEUQUA) Copernicus Publications
Subjects:	Alluvial plains Analysis Composition Earth Sciences Environmental aspects Environmental changes Field tests Geography Geology Geomorphology Holocene Humanities and Social Sciences Landscape evolution Lidar Paleogeography River systems Rivers Sciences of the Universe Sediments Sediments (Geology) Stratigraphy Topography France Rhine River
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Summary:	The French Upper Rhine alluvial plain is characterized by a complex system of paleochannels inherited from Late Glacial to Holocene fluvial dynamics of the Rhine and Ill river systems, among other smaller rivers. These paleochannels represent valuable archives for understanding and reconstructing the fluvial and landscape evolution of the area. However, the Holocene temporal trajectories of the paleochannels, in response to a range of environmental changes, remain poorly understood. This study presents a detailed and systematic mapping and characterization of an extensive network of paleochannels spanning the entire width (19 km) of a reach of the central French Rhine plain. Based on qualitative and quantitative lidar analysis, field investigations, and provenance investigations of paleochannel infill sequences, five distinct paleochannel groups (PG 1 to PG 5) were identified in the study area. These paleochannel groups differ considerably regarding their channel patterns, morphological characteristics, and sedimentary sources of the infilling sediments. The interpretation of the different datasets indicates that the development of these different paleomorphologies is attributed to significant changes in hydro-geomorphodynamic processes in the area during the Holocene, especially lateral migrations of the Rhine and Ill rivers. The findings reported here are promising and will have significant implications for reconstructing the long-term (Late Glacial to Holocene) evolution of the Upper Rhine fluvial hydrosystem in response to various controlling factors.
ISSN:	2199-9090 0424-7116 2199-9090
DOI:	10.5194/egqsj-71-191-2022