The evolution of fluvial systems in the Upper Vistulian and Holocene in the territory of Poland

• Main Author: Leszek Starkel
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: KeJ ' ~Wd5; fluvial system; Upper Vistulian; Holocene History of research; Ice Sheet
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.557.9600; http://geoinfo.amu.edu.pl/sgp/LA/LA01/a007_STARKEL.pdf

Abmllcl: The location of Polish temtory at the junction of a shield- platform, Hercynian and Alpine Europe creates the possibility of studying a great diversity in the evolution oftluvial systems. As well a ~ the climatic change from pcriglacial to temperate. an important role was played by th ~ drainage of the whole territory towards the north and by the hlocking of valleys by the advances of the Scandinavian iee sheet. Studies of the evolution of fluvial systems started at the end of the 19th century, but detailed investigations initiated in the 1970s provided a good background for stratigraphic and paleogeographic reconstructions. In Ihe tcrritory of Poland. several WoE oriented zones of various sequences and trends of evolution have been distinguished. In the southern and middle parts of extraglacial Poland climatic changes arc registered in the erosional and depositional sequences. These are especially well expressed in the valleys of mountain rivers whieh show changeable flood frequency and different tectonic tendencies. In the upland and lowland zones, there is a very distinct phase ofcontinental climate. In the zone oflhe last glaciation, systems of ice marginal streamways were developed in association with a lIew superimposed valley pattern, composed of transversal gaps and young, expanding fluvial systems. The pcriglacial episode was reflected in the valley floors in thc zone of older ice sheet advances. During the Lilorina transgression. a wide belt was submerged. but this sea level rise is not reflected in any ohvious evolution of the valley reaches upstream.