Origin of Meander Sgape-Superimposed Valleys in tge Middle Jialing River：Responses to Regional Geological Environment
Jiang Huajun
Li Changan
Zhang Yufen
Jiang Duanwu
Abstract：In order to define the formation of the Jialing meander shape-superimposed valley and response to the regional geolog-ical environment evolution,the regional geological background,together with the evolution model of water system are explored.It is found that origin of the meander shape-superimposed valley maybe controlled by cut-through of the Three Gor-ges.Water systems of the Sichuan basin and the Jianghan basin had developed separately due to the ancient watershed before the cut-through of the Three Gorges until the Jianghan basin drainage cut through the ancient watershed,captured the western drainage of watershed because of quick erosion rate in the eastern Jianghan basin,and the two drainages were unified at last. Ancient meander of the Jialing River was fast undercut,inset the bed rock and finally developed the meander shape-superimposed valley,the spectacular landscape.Based on ESR (electron spin resonance dating)ages of river sediments in the gravel layers,we believe that cut-through of the Three Gorges happened approximately in the Early-Middle Pleistocene.The cut-through maybe closely related with the“Kunlun-Huanghe Movement”,which happened in this period because of the strong crustal activity in the Quaternary.
Keywords：Jialing Rivermeander shape-superimposed valleyoriginenvironmental geologygeomorphologic environment eventcut-through of the Three Gorges
Publication Date：2014-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：9( 1566-1574 )