Geography (Optional) NOTES

REJUVENATION
by Vineet Thaploo

Meaning of Rejuvenation:

Rejuvenation simply means acceleration of erosive power of the fluvial process (rivers) caused by a
variety of factors.

Rejuvenation lengthens the period of cycle of erosion. For example, if the cycle of erosion is
passing through senile stage (old stage) characterized by gentle channel gradient, sluggish river
flow and broad and shallow alluvial valleys, after rejuvenation (caused either due to substantial fall
in sea level or due to upliftment of landmass) the cycle is interrupted and is driven back to juvenile
(youth) stage characterized by steep channel gradient and accelerated valley incision.

Types of Rejuvenation:

Rejuvenation is of three types:

1) Dynamic rejuvenation

2) Eustatic rejuvenation

3) Static rejuvenation

DYNAMIC REJUVENATION:-

Causes:

(i) Upliftment in the landmass.

(ii) Tilting of land area.

(iii) Lowering of outlet.

EUSTATIC REJUVENATION:-

Causes:-

Changes in sea level due to:

(i) Diastrophic events (subsidence of sea floor or rise of coastal land).

(ii) Glaciation causing fall in sea level.

STATIC REJUVENATION:

Causes:

(i) Decrease in the river load.

(ii) Increase in the volume of water and consequent stream discharge due to increased rainfall or
melt-water.

(iii) Increase in water volume of the main river due to river capture.

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CAUSES FOR REJUVENATION
NOTES
The basic cause for rejuvenation of fluvial cycle of erosion (acceleration of erosive power of the
river) is NEGATIVE CHANGE in the BASE LEVEL of erosion (which is determined by the sea level)
which is caused by a number of factors.

Negative change of base level of erosion is always related to NEGATIVE CHANGE in sea level (fall in
sea-level) which is also called as EUSTATIC movement as it is widespread and global phenomenon.

It may be pointed out that fall in sea level (and hence causing negative movement/change in base
level of erosion) steepens the channel gradient resulting into increased kinetic energy of the fluvial
process which resorts to valley incision (cut/incised refers to when a river has cut downward
through its riverbed) with renewed vigour.(strength/energy)

The eustatic negative change in sea level is caused during glacial ages when most of seawater is
locked on the continents as thick cover of ice sheets. The consequent lowering of sea level causes
steepening of channel gradient of streams which are infact rejuvenated and are engaged in active
down-cutting of their valleys.

Negative change in sea level causing rejuvenation locally and regionally is also caused because
of subsidence of sea floor in relation to coastal land due to tectonic factors.

Local or regional upliftment of landmass causes interruption in the fluvial cycle of erosion and
rejuvenates the fluvial processes (streams). Such type of regional rejuvenation caused by secular
rise in the landmass has been reported from several parts of the Chotanagpur Highlands of
Jharkhand during the three phase upliftment of Himalayas.

Lowering of outlets of streams also causes rejuvenation due to release of extra volume of water
in the concerned river. Such rejuvenation (due to increase in the volume of water) also occurs
when the water supply suddenly increases due to river capture (supply of extra water of the
captured stream to the captor stream).

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LANDFORMS OF REJUVENATING RIVERS
NOTES

As has already been described, rejuvenating rivers form as a result of a fall in sea level, either as a
result of an increase in ice storage or due to isotatic rise or tectonic shifts. Either way the result is a
relative fall of sea level to land. Isostatic rise or rebound is caused by the landmass rising. During
extended periods of glaciation massive ice sheets dominated northern Europe and America; in
places the ice was several kilometers in thickness. This weight caused the continents to sink slowly
into its mantle. Following the retreat of ice sheets during periods of warming the continents
rebound. This rising up of the land increases the potential energy of the river. This energy is
derived from the rise in elevation and the corresponding increase in gravitational force. In this
circumstance, the river will begin again to cut down vertically, starting from the mouth in an
attempt to reach it new base level. The point at which the river is cutting down is called the knick
point. The knick point is a sudden break or irregularity in a river long profile where gradient
increases suddenly. They are egenerally easily recognised in the long profile as they are marked by
a waterfall or series of rapids. Howver some knick points can go almost unnoticed. This
process begins at sea level and begins to retreat back up the long profile (see diagram above. The
knick point represents where the old long profile joins the new one.

RIVER TERRACES

Once a river rejuvenates, due to a fall in its base level, the river will begin cut down. In doing so it
leaves behind abandoned river terraces that mark the previous level of the floodplain. If sea level
continues to fall for an extended period of time, the knick point extends upstream beyond the
middle course then incised meanders may develop.

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INCISED MEANDERS

Incised meanders are meanders which are particularly well developed and occur when a river’s
NOTES
base level has fallen giving the river a large amount of vertical erosion power, allowing it to
downcut.

There are two types of Incised Meanders:

(1) Entrenched Meanders - develop following a rapid incision of the river or when the valley
sides are more resistent to erosion.

(2) Ingrown meanders

Entrenched meanders are symmetrical and form when the river downcuts particularly quickly.
Due to the speed which the river downcuts, there is little opportunity for lateral erosion to occur
giving them their symmetrical shape / profile.

e.g. River Wear, Durham. Ingrown meanders occur when incision is slower and drawn out over a
period of time. In this case the meander has time to erode both vertically and laterally to form an
asymetrical river valley, e.g . River Wye, Tinton Abbey.

Similar to typical meanders, incised meanders can also cut off a meander leaving behind a
meander core.

Ingrown meanders are asymmetrical. They form when the river downcuts at a less rapid pace,
giving the river opportunity to erode laterally as well as vertically.