Geomorphic and tectonic implications of the endorheic to exorheic transition of the Ebro River system in northeast Iberia

Abstract

The Ebro catchment includes a continental foreland basin that underwent an endorheic-exorheic transition. Morphometric studies, including hypsometric curves, hypsometric integrals, asymmetry factor, mountain front sinuosity, normalised stream-length gradient, and normalised concavity indices for the Ebro River and 32 of its tributaries, show the signals of transient response to this major drainage change. The Ebro River, its upper catchment tributaries, and the Pyrenean tributaries have concave-up longitudinal profiles, concave hypsometric curves, and low hypsometric integrals, parameters typical of deeply dissected basins. This suggests a mature stage of development, controlled by the shift of the base level to the Mediterranean Sea. Iberian Range tributaries display low concavity profiles with numerous knickpoints and high values of hypsometric integral, indicating a transient state as a response to tectonic uplift, ratified by the values of mountain front sinuosity surrounding the basin.