Evolution of fluvial systems in Eurasia at different time scales: Special issue dedicated to the memory of Rob Westaway

Bridgland, David; Lauer, Tobias; Stokes, Martin

Abstract

The considerable diversity of environmental conditions across the Eurasian continent makes this this region an outstanding natural laboratory for studying the role of different factors (such as climatic change and tectonic activity) that control the evolution of fluvial systems. Major developments in the research of fluvial systems in different regions of Eurasia have been achieved in recent years. The application of modern techniques in the study of alluvial archives, such as the absolute dating of terrace and floodplain deposits, has advanced understanding, at a range of timescales, of Quaternary evolution of fluvial systems, of climatic and tectonic influences on this development, and of the role of fluvial dynamics in the human occupation of river valleys (and vice versa).
The collection of papers presented in the special issue of Geomorphology, inspired by the most recent meeting of the Fluvial Archives Group (see below), is united in showing the diversity of approaches and topics in studies of the development of fluvial systems in different natural environments: mountains and lowlands, areas of recent glaciation and extra-glacial systems, areas of marine, continental and monsoon climate. The innovative research presented covers various timescales spanning from pre-Quaternary through the various divisions of the Pleistocene to Holocene sequences. The topics range from using fluvial units to reconstruct changes in palaeoenvironment, and how rivers react to climatic cyclicity, to the effect of neotectonic activity on river terraces.
The volume is dedicated to the renowned structural geologist turned fluvial geomorphologist, Rob Westaway, who died prematurely in 2021. His substantial and significant scientific contribution to the study of fluvial archives is the subject of an article by David Bridgland, which opens the special issue. Rob is a posthumous co-author of two papers in the special issue: one on tectonic uplift and climate change as forcing factors in terrace formation by the Yellow River during its incision into the Zoige Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau, and the other on the terrace sequence of the Nahr el Kebir, in NW Syria, having been completed after his death with the use of his notebooks. Other posthumous Westaway publications are envisaged, including coverage of his theories about glacio-isostatic effects, of considerable relevance to post-glacial fluvial archives.

Citation

Bridgland, D., Lauer, T., & Stokes, M. (2025). Evolution of fluvial systems in Eurasia at different time scales: Special issue dedicated to the memory of Rob Westaway. Geomorphology, 470, Article 109540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2024.109540

• Journal Article Type: Editorial
• Acceptance Date: Nov 27, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Nov 30, 2024
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2025
• Deposit Date: Nov 27, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 30, 2024
• Journal: Geomorphology
• Print ISSN: 0169-555X
• Electronic ISSN: 0094-8659
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 470
• Article Number: 109540
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2024.109540
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3108353
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/special-issue/10HLZHNJLV8