Large-scale coastal and fluvial models constrain the late Holocene evolution of the Ebro Delta
The distinctive plan-view shape of the Ebro Delta coast reveals a rich morphologic history. The degree to which the form and depositional history of the Ebro and other deltas represent autogenic (internal) dynamics or allogenic (external) forcing remains a prominent challenge for paleo-environmental...
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ftcopernicus:oai:publications.copernicus.org:esurf57406 2023-05-15T17:34:55+02:00 Large-scale coastal and fluvial models constrain the late Holocene evolution of the Ebro Delta Nienhuis, Jaap H. Ashton, Andrew D. Kettner, Albert J. Giosan, Liviu 2018-09-27 application/pdf https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-585-2017 https://esurf.copernicus.org/articles/5/585/2017/ eng eng doi:10.5194/esurf-5-585-2017 https://esurf.copernicus.org/articles/5/585/2017/ eISSN: 2196-632X Text 2018 ftcopernicus https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-585-2017 2020-07-20T16:23:36Z The distinctive plan-view shape of the Ebro Delta coast reveals a rich morphologic history. The degree to which the form and depositional history of the Ebro and other deltas represent autogenic (internal) dynamics or allogenic (external) forcing remains a prominent challenge for paleo-environmental reconstructions. Here we use simple coastal and fluvial morphodynamic models to quantify paleo-environmental changes affecting the Ebro Delta over the late Holocene. Our findings show that these models are able to broadly reproduce the Ebro Delta morphology, with simple fluvial and wave climate histories. Based on numerical model experiments and the preserved and modern shape of the Ebro Delta plain, we estimate that a phase of rapid shoreline progradation began approximately 2100 years BP, requiring approximately a doubling in coarse-grained fluvial sediment supply to the delta. River profile simulations suggest that an instantaneous and sustained increase in coarse-grained sediment supply to the delta requires a combined increase in both flood discharge and sediment supply from the drainage basin. The persistence of rapid delta progradation throughout the last 2100 years suggests an anthropogenic control on sediment supply and flood intensity. Using proxy records of the North Atlantic Oscillation, we do not find evidence that changes in wave climate aided this delta expansion. Our findings highlight how scenario-based investigations of deltaic systems using simple models can assist first-order quantitative paleo-environmental reconstructions, elucidating the effects of past human influence and climate change, and allowing a better understanding of the future of deltaic landforms. Text North Atlantic North Atlantic oscillation Copernicus Publications: E-Journals Delta River ENVELOPE(-103.371,-103.371,78.769,78.769) Earth Surface Dynamics 5 3 585 603 |
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Open Polar |
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Copernicus Publications: E-Journals |
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ftcopernicus |
language |
English |
description |
The distinctive plan-view shape of the Ebro Delta coast reveals a rich morphologic history. The degree to which the form and depositional history of the Ebro and other deltas represent autogenic (internal) dynamics or allogenic (external) forcing remains a prominent challenge for paleo-environmental reconstructions. Here we use simple coastal and fluvial morphodynamic models to quantify paleo-environmental changes affecting the Ebro Delta over the late Holocene. Our findings show that these models are able to broadly reproduce the Ebro Delta morphology, with simple fluvial and wave climate histories. Based on numerical model experiments and the preserved and modern shape of the Ebro Delta plain, we estimate that a phase of rapid shoreline progradation began approximately 2100 years BP, requiring approximately a doubling in coarse-grained fluvial sediment supply to the delta. River profile simulations suggest that an instantaneous and sustained increase in coarse-grained sediment supply to the delta requires a combined increase in both flood discharge and sediment supply from the drainage basin. The persistence of rapid delta progradation throughout the last 2100 years suggests an anthropogenic control on sediment supply and flood intensity. Using proxy records of the North Atlantic Oscillation, we do not find evidence that changes in wave climate aided this delta expansion. Our findings highlight how scenario-based investigations of deltaic systems using simple models can assist first-order quantitative paleo-environmental reconstructions, elucidating the effects of past human influence and climate change, and allowing a better understanding of the future of deltaic landforms. |
format |
Text |
author |
Nienhuis, Jaap H. Ashton, Andrew D. Kettner, Albert J. Giosan, Liviu |
spellingShingle |
Nienhuis, Jaap H. Ashton, Andrew D. Kettner, Albert J. Giosan, Liviu Large-scale coastal and fluvial models constrain the late Holocene evolution of the Ebro Delta |
author_facet |
Nienhuis, Jaap H. Ashton, Andrew D. Kettner, Albert J. Giosan, Liviu |
author_sort |
Nienhuis, Jaap H. |
title |
Large-scale coastal and fluvial models constrain the late Holocene evolution of the Ebro Delta |
title_short |
Large-scale coastal and fluvial models constrain the late Holocene evolution of the Ebro Delta |
title_full |
Large-scale coastal and fluvial models constrain the late Holocene evolution of the Ebro Delta |
title_fullStr |
Large-scale coastal and fluvial models constrain the late Holocene evolution of the Ebro Delta |
title_full_unstemmed |
Large-scale coastal and fluvial models constrain the late Holocene evolution of the Ebro Delta |
title_sort |
large-scale coastal and fluvial models constrain the late holocene evolution of the ebro delta |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-585-2017 https://esurf.copernicus.org/articles/5/585/2017/ |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-103.371,-103.371,78.769,78.769) |
geographic |
Delta River |
geographic_facet |
Delta River |
genre |
North Atlantic North Atlantic oscillation |
genre_facet |
North Atlantic North Atlantic oscillation |
op_source |
eISSN: 2196-632X |
op_relation |
doi:10.5194/esurf-5-585-2017 https://esurf.copernicus.org/articles/5/585/2017/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-585-2017 |
container_title |
Earth Surface Dynamics |
container_volume |
5 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
585 |
op_container_end_page |
603 |
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1766133913037570048 |