Modeling and experimental studies have suggested that in situ weathering of channel margin bedrock could influence the shape and erosion dynamics of bedrock rivers. I collected a large field dataset of proxies for rock weathering, and showed that bedrock channel margins in most cases have highly variable strength across the channel cross-section. Our results suggest that weathering plays an important role in setting channel geometry and governing the timescales of channel adjustment to perturbations.
Find the paper:
- Shobe, C.M., Hancock, G.S., Eppes, M.C., and Small, E.E. (2017) Field evidence for the influence of weathering on rock erodibility and channel form in bedrock rivers, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, v. 42, no. 13, p. 1997-2012. doi:10.1002/esp.4163.