The evolution of the Congo- Kalahari Watershed: African mega-geomorphology

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dc.contributor.advisorEckardt, Franken_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorCotterill, Fentonen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorFlugel, Tyrel Jamesen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2014-10-21T13:44:30Z
dc.date.available2014-10-21T13:44:30Z
dc.date.issued2014en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAfrica's bimodal elevation, low in the north and west, and high in the south and east, is globally unique. The Congo–Kalahari Watershed represents the transition between low and high Africa. This sub–continental drainage divide separates two of the world's large rivers: the Congo and Zambezi Rivers. This study focuses on the large rivers which form the Congo–Kalahari Watershed. The analysis of their longitudinal profiles, through the use of a geographic information system and remotely sensed imagery and elevation data, provides insights into this drainage divide. The creation of a geodatabase on river knickpoints, featuring geographic and geologic attributes for 18 longitudinal river profiles represented by 194 047 elevation points (19 700 km), identifies a total of 380 knickpoints, 243 of which have heights larger than 5 m. It is possible to assign a probable cause to 354 of all the knickpoints identified in this study, highlighting the underlying geology as a significant control with tectonics playing a secondary role. The following rivers are studied: Chambeshi, Congo, Kalungwishi, Kasai, Kwango, Luapula, Lufira, Lukuga, Lulua, Luvua and Wamba (Congo Basin) and the Cubango, Cuchi, Kabompo, Kafue, Luena and Upper Zambezi Rivers (Kalahari Basin). It is argued that the Congo–Kalahari Watershed is a trimodal feature comprising of a western, central and eastern zone. The smooth central region of the divide is the oldest and has been relatively stable since the break–up of Gondwana. The western region is topographically rougher and has undergone substantial change in the Cenozoic becoming bifurcated by the headwater erosion of the coastal rivers. The eastern watershed is the youngest and topographically roughest, having been substantially modified in the Neogene due to tectonic activity associated with the extension of Western Branch. Due to the extensive modification, this eastern zone should be considered a new feature. The acknowledgment of these three landscapes may lead to the conciliation of various interpretations and suggested causes of Africa's present day continental geomorphology.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationFlugel, T. J. (2014). <i>The evolution of the Congo- Kalahari Watershed: African mega-geomorphology</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Environmental and Geographical Science. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8695en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationFlugel, Tyrel James. <i>"The evolution of the Congo- Kalahari Watershed: African mega-geomorphology."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8695en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationFlugel, T. 2014. The evolution of the Congo- Kalahari Watershed: African mega-geomorphology. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Flugel, Tyrel James AB - Africa's bimodal elevation, low in the north and west, and high in the south and east, is globally unique. The Congo–Kalahari Watershed represents the transition between low and high Africa. This sub–continental drainage divide separates two of the world's large rivers: the Congo and Zambezi Rivers. This study focuses on the large rivers which form the Congo–Kalahari Watershed. The analysis of their longitudinal profiles, through the use of a geographic information system and remotely sensed imagery and elevation data, provides insights into this drainage divide. The creation of a geodatabase on river knickpoints, featuring geographic and geologic attributes for 18 longitudinal river profiles represented by 194 047 elevation points (19 700 km), identifies a total of 380 knickpoints, 243 of which have heights larger than 5 m. It is possible to assign a probable cause to 354 of all the knickpoints identified in this study, highlighting the underlying geology as a significant control with tectonics playing a secondary role. The following rivers are studied: Chambeshi, Congo, Kalungwishi, Kasai, Kwango, Luapula, Lufira, Lukuga, Lulua, Luvua and Wamba (Congo Basin) and the Cubango, Cuchi, Kabompo, Kafue, Luena and Upper Zambezi Rivers (Kalahari Basin). It is argued that the Congo–Kalahari Watershed is a trimodal feature comprising of a western, central and eastern zone. The smooth central region of the divide is the oldest and has been relatively stable since the break–up of Gondwana. The western region is topographically rougher and has undergone substantial change in the Cenozoic becoming bifurcated by the headwater erosion of the coastal rivers. The eastern watershed is the youngest and topographically roughest, having been substantially modified in the Neogene due to tectonic activity associated with the extension of Western Branch. Due to the extensive modification, this eastern zone should be considered a new feature. The acknowledgment of these three landscapes may lead to the conciliation of various interpretations and suggested causes of Africa's present day continental geomorphology. DA - 2014 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2014 T1 - The evolution of the Congo- Kalahari Watershed: African mega-geomorphology TI - The evolution of the Congo- Kalahari Watershed: African mega-geomorphology UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8695 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/8695
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationFlugel TJ. The evolution of the Congo- Kalahari Watershed: African mega-geomorphology. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, 2014 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8695en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Environmental and Geographical Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.titleThe evolution of the Congo- Kalahari Watershed: African mega-geomorphologyen_ZA
dc.typeDoctoral Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelDoctoral
dc.type.qualificationnamePhDen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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