ValleyDyn – Controls on valley-floor width and lateral erosion rates in confined mountain valleys

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ValleyDyn – Controls on valley-floor width and lateral erosion rates in confined mountain valleys

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Offer DescriptionCall for expression of interest descriptionThe is a highly prestigious renowned EU-funded scheme. It offers talented scientists a unique chance to set up 2-year research and training projects with the support of a supervising team. Besides providing an attractive grant, it represents a major opportunity to boost the career of promising researchers.Research laboratories in Brittany arethus looking for excellent postdoctoral researchers with an international profile to write a persuasive proposal to apply for a Marie S. Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship grant in 2024 (deadline of the EU call set on 11 September 2024). The topic and research team presented below have been identified in this regard.Main Research FieldEnvironment and Geosciences (ENV)Research sub-field(s)Geomorphology, Natural Hazards, Numerical Modelling, GISKeywordsRiver erosion, Landslides, Floods, Numerical models, Valley, WidthResearch project descriptionContextMountain floodplains are important components of fluvial systems: as they are the flattest and most fertile regions in mountain environments, they tend to be where settlements, vegetation, and farming are concentrated. Wide, flat valley floors also act as transient sinks for sediment generated at high elevations on its downstream journey to ocean basins. This floodplain sediment is an important control on flood hazard: sediment deposition can reduce channel conveyance capacity, therefore increasing flood risk (Slater et al., 2015). As floods travel downstream, they can also entrain sediment stored within the valley floor. This causes sediment-rich flows, which travel vast distances compared to clearwater flows, causing loss of life and damage to infrastructure (Westoby et al., 2014). Sediment stored within mountain valleys therefore acts as an important linking node between upstream hazards such as earthquakes, landsliding, and debris flows; and downstream hazards such as floods.We currently lack understanding of how rivers erode laterally into their valley walls and what controls the resulting floodplain shape. Gilbert (1877) suggested that lateral erosion occurs when channel beds become alluviated, causing deflection of particles to the channel banks and enhanced lateral erosion (e.g. Fuller et al., 2016). This hypothesis suggests that lateral erosion is likely to outpace vertical incision when sediment supply is greater than channel transport capacity, although lateral erosion has also been suggested to occur during extreme discharge (Cook et al., 2014) or through meander migration (e.g. Finnegan and Dietrich, 2011). However, there exist few direct measurements of bedrock lateral erosion to test these models. Valley widening should occur by lateral bank erosion at times when the channel migrates laterally over the floodplain and impinges upon the valley sidewalls (e.g. Hancock and Anderson, 2002; Turowski et al., 2023). Therefore, valley-floor width could serve as a useful proxy for lateral channel erosion over valley-forming timescales. Empirical studies have found that valley-floor width is correlated with catchment discharge or drainage area (e.g. Tomkin et al., 2003; Brocard and van der Beek, 2006; May et al., 2013,), erodibility of the valley walls (e.g. Langston and Temme, 2019), valley wall height (e.g. Tofelde et al., 2022), upstream and lateral sediment supply, and tectonic uplift (e.g. Clubb et al., 2023), yet we are lacking a robust theoretical understanding of the importance of each of these parameters on setting valley-floor width.Project aimsRecent work has led to the development of new tools to quantify valley-floor morphology at the mountain belt scale (Clubb et al., 2022, 2023), providing datasets which can be used to test emerging models of valley-floor shape. In concert, advances in landscape evolution modelling have led to the development of new hydrodynamic models which simulate lateral channel mobility and allow prediction of active channel widths and flow depths (Davy et al. 2017). The project scope is flexible depending on the skills, experience, and interest of the candidate, but will combine new datasets of valley-floor width from high-resolution topographic data with landscape evolution modelling to investigate which factors controls valley shape and lateral erosion rates in mountain regions. It will focus on actively uplifting mountain ranges such as the Himalaya, New Zealand, and Taiwan. It will address the following key questions: * How do tectonic uplift, water discharge, sediment supply, and bedrock erodibility influence valley-floor widths in confined mountain valleys?

• How do valley-floor widths and rates of lateral erosion evolve with varying scenarios of water discharge, sediment supply, and tectonic uplift?
• How does the episodic lateral input of sediment from surrounding hillslopes influence valley geometry?
• What are the controls on channel mobility within confined fluvial valleys?
• What is the role of extreme floods in shaping fluvial valleys?

Supervisor(s)The Postdoctoral Fellow will be supervised by Philippe Steer, Boris Gailleton and Philippe Davy (Université de Rennes), and Fiona Clubb (University of Durham).

• Philippe Steer – Professor at Geosciences Rennes Department (Université de Rennes), he is a specialist of the interactions between tectonics and erosion, using mainly numerical modelling and field observations.

• Boris Gailleton – Post-doctoral fellow at Geosciences Rennes Department (Université de Rennes), he is a numerical modeller applied to geomorphology and morphometry.

• Philippe Davy – Senior Researcher at Geosciences Rennes Department (CNRS), he is a theoretical and numerical modeler with interest in geomorphology, hydro(geo)logy and rock fracturing.

Department/ResearchUniversity of Rennes is amongst the ten main universities in France. It is a multidisciplinary university, famous for its excellence and dynamic research. The Geosciences department ( ) is a large and multidisciplinary research centre which is internationally recognized for its quality in environmental research, in particular in hydro(geo)logy, geomorphology and numerical modelling. It is one of the main geomorphology center in France and Europe, which a large expertise in numerical modelling, physical modelling and remote sensing. Geosciences Rennes is currently hosting several MC fellowships and ERC projects, including the ERC FEASIBLe project ( ) investigating the impact of extreme events on landscape dynamics. The Fractory associated laboratory is also part of Geosciences Rennes, and develops novative models with application in geomorphology (e.g., River.lab model) among others.LocationCampus Beaulieu, Rennes, FranceSuggestion for interdisciplinary / intersectoral secondments and placementsA 8-month secondment is expected at the Department of Geography of the University of Durham to build a global database of valley width. This secondment will be supervised by Fiona Clubb ( ) who is an international expert in quantitative geomorphology and morphometry with recent applications to valley width (Clubb et al, 2023, Nature Geoscience).RequirementsResearch Field Geosciences » Geology Education Level PhD or equivalentSkills/QualificationsSpecific Skill Requirements:

• Established expertise and relevant research experience in geomorphology, ideally with a focus on fluvial geomorphology, topographic analysis, or numerical modelling. :
• Experience working with and manipulating digital topographic data.
• Experience with numerical models of landscape evolution or hydrology.
• Experience working with quantitative geoscientific data.
• Experience with one or more programming languages e.g. Python, Matlab, R, C++.
• Ability to write scientific papers, to communicate in a scientific environment and to collaborate with a multi-cultural team.

Required Languages: EnglishLanguages ENGLISH Level ExcellentResearch Field Geosciences » GeologyAdditional InformationEligibility criteriaAcademic qualification: By 11 September 2024, applicants must bein possession of a doctoral degree, defined as a successfully defended doctoral thesis, even if the doctoral degree has yet to be awarded.Research experience: Applicants must have a maximum of 8 years full-time equivalent experience in research, measured from the date applicants were in possession of a doctoral degree. Years of experience outside research and career breaks (e.g. due to parental leave), will not be taken into account.Nationality & Mobility rules:Applicants can be of any nationality but must not have resided more than 12 months in France in the 36 months immediately prior to the MSCA-PF call deadline on 11 September 2024.Selection processWe encourage all motivated and eligible postdoctoral researchers to send their expressions of interest through the EU Survey application form ( ), before 5th of May 2024. Your application shall include:

• a CV specifying: (i) the exact dates for each position and its location (country) and (ii) a list of publications;

• a cover letter including a research outline (up to 2 pages) identifying the research synergies with the project supervisor(s) and proposed research topics described above.

Estimated timetableDeadline for sending an expression of interest5th May 2024Selection of the most promising application(s)May – June 2024Writing the MSCA-PF proposal with the support of the above-mentioned supervisor(s)June – September 2024MSCA-PF 2024 call deadline11th September 2024Publication of the MSCA-PF evaluation resultsFebruary 2025Start of the MSCA-PF project (if funded)May 2025 (at the earliest)Website for additional job detailsWork Location(s)Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute Géosciences Rennes, UMR 6118 – Univ Rennes, CNRS Country France City Rennes Postal Code 35042 Street 263 avenue Général Leclerc GeofieldWhere to apply WebsiteContact State/ProvinceDraft CityRennes WebsiteStreet263 avenue Général Leclerc Postal Code35042 E-Mail[email protected]STATUS: EXPIRED

Expected salary

Location

Rennes, Ille-et-Vilaine

Job date

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 02:44:09 GMT

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