Stratigraphy of Late Quaternary fluvial terraces at the confluence of the Lech and Danube valleys

Abstract

The main purpose oft the study is the Würmian Lateglacial and Holocene valley development at the confluence of the Lech and Danube valleys, located in the Northern Alpine Foreland. The morphological features in the study area were surveyed by field mapping and high resolution Digital Elevation Models. The deposits of both rivers were examined in numerous outcrops and dated using radiocarbon and luminescence measurements. Also archaeological data and historical maps were taken into account. The oldest terrace of the valley floor is a Würmian Lateglacial Niederterrasse, which is only prevalent in the Danube valley slightly downstream of the confluence. Fragmentary terraces of Preboreal/Boreal age have been preserved in both valleys and gravel deposits of this age extensively underlie younger terraces. The Atlantic period is not represented by river channel deposits in the study area. In contrast, Subboreal and Subalantic gravel deposits morphologically dominate the lower Lech valley and the Danube valley downstream of the confluence. Up to six Subatlantic terraces accompany the recent courses of Lech and Danube. The distribution and morphological appearance of the Late Subatlantic terraces at the Danube upstream of the confluence refer to a meandering river, whereas the morphology of the youngest Lech terraces predominantly relates to an anabranching river. Downstream of the Lech - Danube confluence the Subatlantic terrace morphology is a transitional one between a meandering and an anabranching depositional setting. Copyright: