Journal article
Geomorphology and evolution of the late Pleistocene to Holocene fluvial system in the south-eastern Llanos de Moxos, Bolivian Amazon
A Plotzki, J-H May, F Preusser, B Roesti, S Denier, U Lombardo, H Veit
CATENA | ELSEVIER | Published : 2015
Abstract
In the Bolivian Amazon several paleochannel generations are preserved. Their wide spectrum of morphologies clearly provides crucial information on the type and magnitude of geomorphic and hydrological changes within the drainage network of the Andean foreland. Therefore, in this study we mapped geomorphological characteristics of paleochannels, and applied radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence dating. Seven paleochannel generations are identified. Significant changes in sinuosity, channel widths and river pattern are observed for the successive paleochannel generations. Our results clearly reflect at least three different geomorphic and hydrological periods in the evolution of th..
View full abstractGrants
Awarded by Swiss National Science Foundation
Funding Acknowledgements
This research was funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF 200021-1222). The authors are thankful for field assistance of Bernhard Vogt, Andreas Schellenberger, Leonor Rodrigues and Seraina Fehr. We would like to thank Daniela Fischer who provided essential laboratory work. Sally Lowick kindly provided support in the OSL laboratory (Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern). We are appreciative to the ETH Zurich, where we performed grain size analysis and to the University of Fribourg, where we performed XRF measurements. Thanks go to Lutz Dumbgen for statistical support and to Remo Hofmann for laboratory support. Comments of two anonymous reviewers greatly improved the quality of this manuscript Many thanks go to Bettina Niklaus and Florian Abgottspon for contributing data on the La Chacra River with their Bachelor thesis. Mario Gonzales is thanked for the organization of a 4-day boat trip to the Mamore-Grande River confluence. We are grateful to the farm owners and caretakers in Bolivia for permission to drill on their properties and for their help, especially to Mr. Velasco from the estancia La Chacra.