Morphostratigraphy of landform series from the Late Cretaceous to the Quaternary

The “3 + 1” model of the quadripartite watershed system at the NW edge of the Bohemian Massif

authored by

Harald G. Dill, Sorin Ionut Balaban, Martin Füssl, Herbert Pöllmann, Andrei Buzatu

Abstract

The quadripartite/ orthogonal and domal Central European Watershed (CEW) at the NW edge of the Bohemian Massif has been studied by a terrain analysis (fluvial, colluvial, cryogenic, aeolian landforms) combined with geochronological dating (hydraulic correlation) of landforms and the resultant hydrographic correlation of relief generations. It resulted in a morphostratigraphic review (subdivided into a protostage- creating the terrestrial platform, prestages - controlling the physical and chemical regime of the landform series, and stages- fine-tuning of the modern landscape) of the Late Cretaceous to Quaternary relief generations that lead to the creation of the “3 + 1” model of the CEW. The term “3 + 1” refers to a triple junction supplemented with a fourth branch. The characteristic land-form type of the CEW is called the “intermediate sediment trap”, a wetland caused by structural or impact-related damming processes. The evolution of the CEW is discussed by a set of four different drivers: The endogenous 1st order drivers are activities along lineamentary fault zones which demarcate the watershed systems. The 2nd order endogenous driver is the alkaline volcanic activity from the Late Cretaceous to the Holocene which contributed to dome-and starlike geomorphological expression. The 3rd order impact-related driver of the Ries Meteorite impact provoked a deflection and damming of channels thereby leading to one of the intermediate sediment traps. The 4th exogenous driver is the climate change. It is accountable for the transition from fluvial incision during the Late Cretaceous and Paleogene (humid-tropical climate zone) to a planation during the Neogene (tropical wet and dry paleoclimate zone). The Quaternary humid mid-latitude, dry continental, and (peri)glacial climate zones put the final touch on the CEW's geomorphological outward appearance. The influence of mining, metallurgy, and mineral processing on the landscape debated in the final stage 8 heralds the onset of the Anthropocene in the CEW. This review of the evolution of the CEW also lends support to the idea that an advanced terrain analysis can be an efficient tool for mineral exploration.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Mineralogy

External Organisation(s)

Birkbeck University of London
Regierung von Oberfranken
Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Al. I. Cuza University

Type

Review article

Journal

Geomorphology

Volume

419

ISSN

0169-555X

Publication date

15.12.2022

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Earth-Surface Processes

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 13 - Climate Action, SDG 15 - Life on Land

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2022.108489 (Access: Closed)