High-resolution evaluation of recent bank accretion rate of the managed Rhone: A case study by multi-proxy approach

Geomorphology / Volume 117, Issue 3-4, 1 Mai 2010, Pages 287-297

We determined the sedimentation rates near a managed embankment on the Lower Rhone for the second half of the twentieth century. This was carried out using a combination of chronological indicators (¹³⁷Cs, ²⁴¹Am, dendrochronology and archived data) and sedimentological measurements. A high-resolution chronological sequence has emerged from these data sets. The average annual sedimentation rate of 14 cm has increased progressively over the last 50 years, and at a much faster rate than observed elsewhere on this river. This is probably due to a combination of factors such as the size of the river, abundance and coarse texture of the solid load, and local impact of river engineering works. We also studied hydrological and sedimentological characteristics for a number of flood events.