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Scientific article
Open access
English

Subaqueous geomorphology and delta dynamics of Lake Brienz (Switzerland): implications for the sediment budget in the alpine realm

Published inSwiss journal of geosciences, vol. 114, no. 22
Publication date2021-12-20
First online date2021-12-20
Abstract

Non-invasive techniques such as seismic investigations and high-resolution multibeam sonars immensely improved our understanding of the geomorphology and sediment regimes in both the lacustrine and the marine domain. However, only few studies provide quantifications of basin wide-sediment budgets in lakes. Here, we use the combination of high-resolution bathymetric mapping and seismic reflection data to quantify the sediment budget in an alpine lake. The new bathymetric data of Lake Brienz reveal three distinct geomorphological areas: slopes with intercalated terraces, a flat basin plain, and delta areas with subaquatic channel systems. Quasi-4D seismic reflection data allow sediment budgeting of the lake with a total sediment input of 5.54 × 10 6 t sediment over 15 years of which three-quarter were deposited in the basin plain. Lake Brienz yields extraordinarily high sedimentation rates of 3.0 cm/yr in the basin plain, much more than in other Swiss lakes. This can be explained by (i) its role as first sedimentary sink in a high-alpine catchment, and by (ii) its morphology with subaquatic channel-complexes allowing an efficient sediment transfer from proximal to distal areas of the lake.

eng
Keywords
  • Alpine lake
  • Megaturbidites
  • Quasi-4D reflection seismic data
  • Sediment budget
  • Subaquatic delta channel
  • Lake Brienz
  • Switzerland
  • Multibeam bathymetry
  • Seismic reflection
  • Sedimentation rates
  • Oligotrophic lakes
  • Submarine canyons
  • 20th century
  • Holocene
Funding
Citation (ISO format)
FABBRI, Stefano C. et al. Subaqueous geomorphology and delta dynamics of Lake Brienz (Switzerland): implications for the sediment budget in the alpine realm. In: Swiss journal of geosciences, 2021, vol. 114, n° 22. doi: 10.1186/s00015-021-00399-1
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Article (Published version)
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Identifiers
ISSN of the journal1661-8726
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