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<p>This paper presents comprehensive investigations of the morphological, sedimentological, and stratigraphic features in the lower Prosna River valley infill, situated in west-central Poland. At the Rokutów site, we identified two meander generations and an anastomosing system. Fluvial changes observed depict the response of the extraglacial river system to climate fluctuations post-last glaciation. Following valley aggradation, scouring erosion, reaching depths of 9–10 m, likely occurred during the Bølling Interstadial. ‘Great meanders’ emerged during the Allerød-Younger Dryas, persisting for around 1000 years, with an uncommon upstream rotation influenced by the sub-Quaternary surface slope. A lengthy stabilization phase, lasting 8000–10,000 years, characterized by an anastomosing system with gradual aggradation, followed the great meandering period. About 3600–3900 years ago, the valley shifted back to a fluvial system with small meanders, lasting 600–900 years. Subsequently, the River Prosna reverted to an anastomosing system, remaining so until the 19th–20th centuries when it transformed into a single-channel system through regulatory manipulation. Our research suggests that the evolution of the Prosna River differed from other rivers across Western and Central Europe, exhibiting a blend of anastomosing and meandering phases.</p>
</abstract>

This paper presents comprehensive investigations of the morphological, sedimentological, and stratigraphic features in the lower Prosna River valley infill, situated in west-central Poland. At the Rokutów site, we identified two meander generations and an anastomosing system. Fluvial changes observed depict the response of the extraglacial river system to climate fluctuations post-last glaciation. Following valley aggradation, scouring erosion, reaching depths of 9–10 m, likely occurred during the Bølling Interstadial. ‘Great meanders’ emerged during the Allerød-Younger Dryas, persisting for around 1000 years, with an uncommon upstream rotation influenced by the sub-Quaternary surface slope. A lengthy stabilization phase, lasting 8000–10,000 years, characterized by an anastomosing system with gradual aggradation, followed the great meandering period. About 3600–3900 years ago, the valley shifted back to a fluvial system with small meanders, lasting 600–900 years. Subsequently, the River Prosna reverted to an anastomosing system, remaining so until the 19th–20th centuries when it transformed into a single-channel system through regulatory manipulation. Our research suggests that the evolution of the Prosna River differed from other rivers across Western and Central Europe, exhibiting a blend of anastomosing and meandering phases.

Morphology, Sedimentology and OSL Chronology of the Lower Prosna River System Evolution – A Case Study in Rokutów, West-Central Poland

Institute of Physics, Centre for Science and Education

Silesian University of Technology, Division of Geochronology and Environmental Isotopes

Department of Geophysics, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography

Geochronometria

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

This paper presents comprehensive investigations of the morphological, sedimentological, and stratigraphic features in the lower Prosna River valley infill,...

Morphology, Sedimentology and OSL Chronology of the Lower Prosna River System Evolution – A Case Study in Rokutów, West-Central Poland

Published Online: Mar 05, 2024

Page range: 166 - 179

Received: Jul 20, 2023

Accepted: Jan 22, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/geochr-2023-0017

Keywords
lateral erosion, great meanders, fining-upward succession, GIS analysis, DEM model

© 2024 Andrzej Wojtalak et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Morphology, Sedimentology and OSL Chronology of the Lower Prosna River System Evolution – A Case Study in Rokutów, West-Central Poland

Published Online: Mar 05, 2024

Page range: 166 - 179

Received: Jul 20, 2023

Accepted: Jan 22, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/geochr-2023-0017

Keywordslateral erosion, great meanders, fining-upward succession, GIS analysis, DEM model

© 2024 Andrzej Wojtalak et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
lateral erosion, great meanders, fining-upward succession, GIS analysis, DEM model