Controls on Longitudinal Stream Profile Evolution in Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Canyons in Guadalupe Mountains National Park are excellent locations to study the discrete boundary conditions that influence longitudinal channel profile evolution including climate, tectonics, hydrology, and lithology. The Guadalupe Mountain landscape records deep earth mantle processes in combination with surficial channel erosion and incision. Knickpoints and convex segments in longitudinal river profiles document impacts of climate change, tectonics, or surface processes. This study combines field observations with an analysis of longitudinal profile slopes and residual errors to evaluate how bedrock strength can be distinguished from features created by climate change, faulting, or subsidence in Pine Springs and McKittrick Canyons within Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Rock strength values averaging 62.3 ± 6.5 were observed in the field along active bedrock channels. Channel morphometries were described using digital elevation models, and Flint’s Law was applied to reaches of the stream channels to calculate mean concavity and distribution of channel steepness indexes. Knickpoints in longitudinal profiles corresponded to three stream confluences and one normal fault. Correlations between rock strength and channel steepness varied between two study canyons in the park. Significant correlations between rock strength and stream gradient were observed in five hydrologically simple tributary channels. Disparity in statistical results might be related to upstream drainage area variations and stream capture associated with local faults and rock strength differences. Variable conditions constrained within the small area of Guadalupe Mountains National Park highlight the uncertainties that influence larger scale regional models

Archaeology · Economic geography · Environmental planning · Environmental protection · Environmental resource management · Geography · National park · Physical geography · Environmental Science · Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes · Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies · Karst Systems and Hydrogeology