Articles | Volume 4, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-11-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-11-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
15 Jan 2016
Research article |
| 15 Jan 2016
Experimental migration of knickpoints: influence of style of base-level fall and bed lithology
St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota, 2 Third Avenue
SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA
C. Paola
St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota, 2 Third Avenue
SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA
V. Voller
St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota, 2 Third Avenue
SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
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Cited
33 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Self-formed bedrock waterfalls J. Scheingross et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-0991-z
- Landscape evolution in orogenic plateaus: Insights from quantitative morphotectonic analysis of the Turkish–Iranian Plateau and Caucasus regions A. Kaveh‐Firouz et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5756
- River self-organisation inhibits discharge control on waterfall migration E. Baynes et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-20767-6
- Erosional Cyclic Steps Governed by Plunge Pool Erosion: A Parametric Study Based on Field, Laboratory, and Model Data X. Zeng et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JF006034
- Sex that moves mountains: The influence of spawning fish on river profiles over geologic timescales A. Fremier et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2017.09.033
- Morphologic signatures of autogenic waterfalls: A case study in the San Gabriel Mountains, California E. Groh & J. Scheingross https://doi.org/10.1130/G49320.1
- Dip angle controls on plucking susceptibility and knickpoint evolution in bedrock rivers K. Chilton et al. https://doi.org/10.1130/G53413.1
- Origin of Knickpoints in an Alpine Context Subject to Different Perturbing Factors, Stura Valley, Maritime Alps (North-Western Italy) M. Marrucci et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences8120443
- Numerical modelling of landscape and sediment flux response to precipitation rate change J. Armitage et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-77-2018
- Competition between uplift and transverse sedimentation in an experimental delta J. Grimaud et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JF004239
- River bed degradation in a compound channel after base level fall R. Nie et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221686.2024.2328655
- Energy method of geophysical logging lithology based on K-means dynamic clustering analysis J. Jing et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2021.101534
- Lithological controls on the timing of strath terrace staircase formation in a collisional mountain belt J. Zondervan et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5821
- Fluvial terrace formation and controls in the Lower River Danube, SE Romania I. Armaş et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2018.03.031
- The shaping of erosional landscapes by internal dynamics J. Scheingross et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-020-0096-0
- Geomorphic signatures of the transient fluvial response to tilting H. Beeson & S. McCoy https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-123-2020
- Waterfall height sets the mechanism and rate of upstream retreat T. Inoue et al. https://doi.org/10.1130/G51039.1
- Morphostructural Controls Reflected in Drainage Patterns R. Archanjo et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology12120314
- The Migration Diary of a Knickpoint in a Channelized Stream With a Cohesive Bed A. Papanicolaou et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018WR023793
- Variations of Lateral Bedrock Erosion Rates Control Planation of Uplifting Folds in the Foreland of the Tian Shan, NW China A. Bufe et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JF004099
- Uncovering the Controls on Fluvial Bedrock Erodibility and Knickpoint Expression: A High‐Resolution Comparison of Bedrock Properties Between Knickpoints and Non‐Knickpoint Reaches K. Chilton & J. Spotila https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JF006511
- Application of a simple headcut advance model for gullies P. Allen et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4233
- Understanding fracture distribution and its relation to knickpoint evolution in the Rio Icacos watershed (Luquillo Critical Zone Observatory, Puerto Rico) using landscape‐scale hydrogeophysics X. Comas et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4540
- An experimental study of drainage network development by surface and subsurface flow in low-gradient landscapes B. Sockness & K. Gran https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-581-2022
- How a stationary knickpoint is sustained: New insights into the formation of the deep Yarlung Tsangpo Gorge Y. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2017.02.005
- Impacts of Spontaneous Waterfall Development on Bedrock River Longitudinal Profile Morphology S. Rothman et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JF007057
- Quantifying landscape change following catastrophic dam failures in Edenville and Sanford, Michigan, USA H. Martin et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5855
- Rethinking uplift, emergence, and landscape evolution of the Hengchun Peninsula at the southern tip of the Taiwan orogen F. Li & M. Hsieh https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2026.107265
- Times Associated With Source-to-Sink Propagation of Environmental Signals During Landscape Transience S. Tofelde et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2021.628315
- Thalweg migration under the collaborative changes in the hydro-sediment regime and erosion base level in the Xiaobeiganliu reach of the Middle Yellow River Z. Wen et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-025-2382-8
- The Influence of Knickpoint Development and Channel Incision on Riparian Vegetation in Semi‐Arid River Corridors T. Johaneman et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023WR034872
- Extreme Memory of Initial Conditions in Numerical Landscape Evolution Models J. Kwang & G. Parker https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL083305
- Performance of riffle structures on the stabilization of two successive knickpoints over a sandy bed A. Semnan & M. Jaefarzadeh https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsrc.2020.02.006
33 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Self-formed bedrock waterfalls J. Scheingross et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-0991-z
- Landscape evolution in orogenic plateaus: Insights from quantitative morphotectonic analysis of the Turkish–Iranian Plateau and Caucasus regions A. Kaveh‐Firouz et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5756
- River self-organisation inhibits discharge control on waterfall migration E. Baynes et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-20767-6
- Erosional Cyclic Steps Governed by Plunge Pool Erosion: A Parametric Study Based on Field, Laboratory, and Model Data X. Zeng et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JF006034
- Sex that moves mountains: The influence of spawning fish on river profiles over geologic timescales A. Fremier et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2017.09.033
- Morphologic signatures of autogenic waterfalls: A case study in the San Gabriel Mountains, California E. Groh & J. Scheingross https://doi.org/10.1130/G49320.1
- Dip angle controls on plucking susceptibility and knickpoint evolution in bedrock rivers K. Chilton et al. https://doi.org/10.1130/G53413.1
- Origin of Knickpoints in an Alpine Context Subject to Different Perturbing Factors, Stura Valley, Maritime Alps (North-Western Italy) M. Marrucci et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences8120443
- Numerical modelling of landscape and sediment flux response to precipitation rate change J. Armitage et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-77-2018
- Competition between uplift and transverse sedimentation in an experimental delta J. Grimaud et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JF004239
- River bed degradation in a compound channel after base level fall R. Nie et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221686.2024.2328655
- Energy method of geophysical logging lithology based on K-means dynamic clustering analysis J. Jing et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2021.101534
- Lithological controls on the timing of strath terrace staircase formation in a collisional mountain belt J. Zondervan et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5821
- Fluvial terrace formation and controls in the Lower River Danube, SE Romania I. Armaş et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2018.03.031
- The shaping of erosional landscapes by internal dynamics J. Scheingross et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-020-0096-0
- Geomorphic signatures of the transient fluvial response to tilting H. Beeson & S. McCoy https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-123-2020
- Waterfall height sets the mechanism and rate of upstream retreat T. Inoue et al. https://doi.org/10.1130/G51039.1
- Morphostructural Controls Reflected in Drainage Patterns R. Archanjo et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology12120314
- The Migration Diary of a Knickpoint in a Channelized Stream With a Cohesive Bed A. Papanicolaou et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018WR023793
- Variations of Lateral Bedrock Erosion Rates Control Planation of Uplifting Folds in the Foreland of the Tian Shan, NW China A. Bufe et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JF004099
- Uncovering the Controls on Fluvial Bedrock Erodibility and Knickpoint Expression: A High‐Resolution Comparison of Bedrock Properties Between Knickpoints and Non‐Knickpoint Reaches K. Chilton & J. Spotila https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JF006511
- Application of a simple headcut advance model for gullies P. Allen et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4233
- Understanding fracture distribution and its relation to knickpoint evolution in the Rio Icacos watershed (Luquillo Critical Zone Observatory, Puerto Rico) using landscape‐scale hydrogeophysics X. Comas et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4540
- An experimental study of drainage network development by surface and subsurface flow in low-gradient landscapes B. Sockness & K. Gran https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-581-2022
- How a stationary knickpoint is sustained: New insights into the formation of the deep Yarlung Tsangpo Gorge Y. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2017.02.005
- Impacts of Spontaneous Waterfall Development on Bedrock River Longitudinal Profile Morphology S. Rothman et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JF007057
- Quantifying landscape change following catastrophic dam failures in Edenville and Sanford, Michigan, USA H. Martin et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5855
- Rethinking uplift, emergence, and landscape evolution of the Hengchun Peninsula at the southern tip of the Taiwan orogen F. Li & M. Hsieh https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2026.107265
- Times Associated With Source-to-Sink Propagation of Environmental Signals During Landscape Transience S. Tofelde et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2021.628315
- Thalweg migration under the collaborative changes in the hydro-sediment regime and erosion base level in the Xiaobeiganliu reach of the Middle Yellow River Z. Wen et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-025-2382-8
- The Influence of Knickpoint Development and Channel Incision on Riparian Vegetation in Semi‐Arid River Corridors T. Johaneman et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023WR034872
- Extreme Memory of Initial Conditions in Numerical Landscape Evolution Models J. Kwang & G. Parker https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL083305
- Performance of riffle structures on the stabilization of two successive knickpoints over a sandy bed A. Semnan & M. Jaefarzadeh https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsrc.2020.02.006
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 18 Aug 2026
Short summary
Knickpoints represent localized steps along a river profile (e.g. waterfalls or rapids) that are commonly interpreted as the geomorphic response of river systems to external changes. We used a simple experiment to show that knickpoints may not only respond to external base-level change but are also able to self-organize. We highlight the effect of alluvial cover in delaying knickpoint formation and show that river bed strength controls both retreat velocity and geometry of knickpoints.
Knickpoints represent localized steps along a river profile (e.g. waterfalls or rapids) that are...
