Morphodynamic structure of a river channel in a late-glacial relief area (Case of the Łeba River, Pomorze Region in the North-Western Poland)

Summary: The research aimed at understanding the morphology and functioning of a late-glacial river channel. A morphogenetically complex valley of the river Łeba was chosen as representative for the late-glacial northern slopes of the Polish Baltic coast (a region called Pomorze). The channel structure analysis method was employed with morphodynamics as the basic criterion. Conclusions as to which fluvial processes were dominant in a given channel reach were based on the channel shape and its features, following a detailed analysis of the channel morphometry and features, as well as the valley floor lithology. In late-glacial relief areas, the primary factors determining the natural course of a particular river channel system development are local geology and geomorphology, and particularly the origin, solid geology and morphology of the land features in which the river channel is formed. Late-glacial river channels are structurally complex. The morphodynamic structure of the Łeba river closely follows the valley structure and each of the channel reaches is modelled by a set of fluvial processes typical for any given valley form. Fluvial processes which shape particular reaches are driven by the valley morphology (long profile gradients and the valley width), and the type of rocks in the valley floor. Another important factor for the dynamic structure of the late-glacial area river is the existence of lakes along its course, which constitute local base lines of erosion which receive all the material carried by the river.

Słowa kluczowe (w języku angielskim): river channel, morphodynamic, Łeba River, NW Poland.

Prace Geograficzne, 1999, z. 104, s. 69-107.

Instytut Geografii i Gospodarki Przestrzennej UJ

ISBN 83-911124-2-X

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