Sediment organization and adjustment in a torrential reach of the upper Ijuez river, central Spanish Pyrenees

  1. Gómez-Villar, A. 1
  2. Sanjuán, Y. 2
  3. García-Ruiz, J.M. 2
  4. Nadal-Romero, E. 3
  5. Álvarez-Martínez, J. 4
  6. Arnáez, J. 5
  7. Serrano-Muela, M.P. 2
  1. 1 Universidad de León
    info

    Universidad de León

    León, España

    ROR https://ror.org/02tzt0b78

  2. 2 Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología
    info

    Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología

    Zaragoza, España

    ROR https://ror.org/039ssy097

  3. 3 Universidad de Zaragoza
    info

    Universidad de Zaragoza

    Zaragoza, España

    ROR https://ror.org/012a91z28

  4. 4 Universidad de Valladolid
    info

    Universidad de Valladolid

    Valladolid, España

    ROR https://ror.org/01fvbaw18

  5. 5 Universidad de La Rioja
    info

    Universidad de La Rioja

    Logroño, España

    ROR https://ror.org/0553yr311

Revista:
Cuadernos de investigación geográfica: Geographical Research Letters

ISSN: 0211-6820 1697-9540

Año de publicación: 2014

Título del ejemplar: Geomorfología Fluvial / Fluvial geomorphology

Volumen: 40

Número: 1

Páginas: 191-214

Tipo: Artículo

DOI: 10.18172/CIG.2566 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openDialnet editor

Otras publicaciones en: Cuadernos de investigación geográfica: Geographical Research Letters

Repositorio institucional: lock_openAcceso abierto Editor

Resumen

Se estudia un tramo torrencial en la cabecera del río Ijuez, Pirineo central español, con el fin de analizar su dinámica en relación con la distribución espacial de los sedimentos. Este tramo se instala en el flysch eoceno, que habitualmente se comporta como altamente productor de sedimento, especialmente en condiciones de intensa actividad humana. El valle del río Ijuez fue cultivado y densamente poblado hasta mediados del siglo XX, causando la eliminación de la mayoría de los bosques y dando lugar a flujos de derrubios (debris flows), deslizamientos superficiales, erosión difusa y formación de barrancos muy activos. La consecuencia fue el desarrollo de una llanura aluvial caracterizada por el escombrado de grandes volúmenes de sedimento grueso. La organización espacial de los sedimentos muestra un progresivo descenso en el tamaño de los cantos, especialmente en el cauce actual, y mucho menos en el resto de la llanura aluvial, donde la variabilidad es muy grande. Los grandes bloques no presentan ninguna tendencia a lo largo del curso, reflejando la importancia de los flujos de derrubios e hiperconcentrados en el transporte de sedimento. El tramo torrencial estudiado no muestra un perfil longitudinal exponencial negativo, al contrario de lo que es habitual en los ríos de montaña. Este fenómeno se atribuye a la gran cantidad de sedimentos heterométricos que llegan masivamente desde las laderas, que impiden un marcado descenso en el tamaño del sedimento y el consiguiente ajuste del perfil longitudinal. Se ha detectado una tendencia reciente hacia la incisión del río en sus propios sedimentos, reflejando la reducción en el aporte de estos últimos debido al abandono de tierras y la reforestación, limitando la conectividad entre laderas y cauce.

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