Hydroclimatic trends, sediment sources and geomorphic response in the Bell River catchment, eastern Cape Drakensberg, South Africa

Dollar, Evan S J; Rowntree, Kate M

Title: Hydroclimatic trends, sediment sources and geomorphic response in the Bell River catchment, eastern Cape Drakensberg, South Africa
Creator: Dollar, Evan S J
Creator: Rowntree, Kate M
Date Issued: 1995
Date: 1995
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:6677
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006655
Description: The Bell River in the Eastern Cape Drakensberg of South Africa has shown recent signs of channel instability as evidenced by avulsion, sinuosity reductions, gradient steepening and general channel instability. Analysis of rainfall data did not provide evidence for progressive long term change in rainfall pattern for the catchment. However, annual and seasonal rainfall cycles with variance peaks every 16-19 years were found, from which it can be inferred that flood events following years of below average rainfall may cross the threshold limit for channel stability. Channel instability is often followed by a major flood event after sustained low rainfall periods, a sequence referred to as the Flood and Drought Dominated Regimes by Warner (1987). Evidence presented also indicates an increase in catchment erosion in the past century with attendant sediment production increases to the channel. This may be due to catchment land use and management practices (following settlement by commercial farmers) superimposed on long term climatic changes. The conclusions are that catchment and channel processes are inseparable, and that disequilibrium in the catchment will be transferred to the channel.
Format: 12 pages
Format: pdf
Language: English
Relation: Dollar, Evan Stephen John and Rowntree, Kate (1995) Hydroclimatic trends, sediment sources and geomorphic response in the Bell River catchment, eastern Cape Drakensberg, South Africa. South African Geographical Journal, 77 (1). pp. 21-32.

Hits: 398
Visitors: 634
Downloads: 260

Collections

Dollar, Evan (Mr)

RU Department of Geography

Rowntree, Kate (Prof Emeritus)

SDG 13. Climate Action

SDG 15. Life On Land

		Thumbnail	File	Description	Size	Format
View Details Download			SOURCEPDF	PDF	1005 KB	Adobe Acrobat PDF	View Details Download