Knickpoints in tributaries of the South Fork Eel River, Northern California
Graduation Date
2010
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Other
Program
Thesis (M.S.)--Humboldt State University, Environmental Systems: Geology, 2010
Committee Chair Name
Harvey Kelsey
Committee Chair Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Keywords
Humboldt State University -- Theses -- Geology, Tributary basins, South Fork Eel River, Knickpoints, Northern California
Abstract
Multiple knickpoints are present in two tributary basins of the South Fork Eel River. These tributaries are downstream from a major knickpoint on the South Fork Eel River, which may be a transient knickpoint propagating base-level fall throughout the basin. Knickpoints are identified from longitudinal profiles extracted from LiDARderived DEMs. Knickpoints and knickzones, knickzones being the immediate downstream reach of higher gradient, are present throughout the two basins. Many of the knickpoints display correlative elevations between the two basins. Knickpoints are most common on first-order streams, and knickpoint frequency decreases with increasing stream order. Major knickzones were found throughout the basins, but the largest knickzone reaches were found closest to the basin outlets. Although only the lowest major knickpoints on each tributary likely correlate with the major knickpoint on the South Fork, it does appear that knickpoints in these tributary basins are the result of multiple instances of base-level lowering on the South Fork Eel River.
Recommended Citation
Foster, Melissa, "Knickpoints in tributaries of the South Fork Eel River, Northern California" (2010). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 1563.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/1563
https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/theses/v979v538q