Abstract
Spatial and temporal controls on hydro-geomorphic processes in the French Prealps
Highlights
Science Highlights: Integrative Paleoscience in the late 20th century
Foster et al (2003) reconstructed the mechanisms of flooding and sediment transport within the Petit Lac catchment over timescales of months to centuries from lake and floodplain sediments that were representative of large catchment areas
Analysis of the results revealed that climate and land-use controls on the hydrological and sediment system were complex and varied according to the timescale of observation
Summary
Foster et al (2003) reconstructed the mechanisms of flooding and sediment transport within the Petit Lac catchment over timescales of months to centuries from lake and floodplain sediments that were representative of large catchment areas. Analysis of the results revealed that climate and land-use controls on the hydrological and sediment system were complex and varied according to the timescale of observation. It was suggested that deforestation might have caused a number of high-magnitude flood and erosion events. The authors argued that as the timescale of observation becomes shorter (annual rather than centennial), the impact of climate or meteorological events on hydro-geomorphic processes become progressively more important, The authors showed that since the mid19th century, smoothed records of discharge roughly followed annual precipitation (Foster et al, 2003) whilst annual sediment load declined in parallel with the trend of declining land use pressure (Fig. 2). A recent rise in sediment yield, since the 1980s, points to a shift in seasonal rainfall patterns, which is visible in the instrumental record (Fig. 2C)
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