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The evolution of the Congo- Kalahari Watershed: African mega-geomorphology
Includes bibliographical references.
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| Main Author: | |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Department of Environmental and Geographical Science
2014
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| _version_ | 1867613219682516992 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Flugel, Tyrel James |
| author2 | Eckardt, Frank |
| author_browse | Eckardt, Frank Flugel, Tyrel James |
| author_facet | Eckardt, Frank Flugel, Tyrel James |
| author_sort | Flugel, Tyrel James |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Includes bibliographical references. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/8695 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:32:39.476Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publishDateRange | 2014 |
| publishDateSort | 2014 |
| publisher | Department of Environmental and Geographical Science |
| publisherStr | Department of Environmental and Geographical Science |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/8695 The evolution of the Congo- Kalahari Watershed: African mega-geomorphology Flugel, Tyrel James Eckardt, Frank Cotterill, Fenton Includes bibliographical references. 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. 2014-10-21T13:44:30Z 2014-10-21T13:44:30Z 2014 Doctoral Thesis Doctoral PhD http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8695 eng application/pdf Department of Environmental and Geographical Science Faculty of Science University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Flugel, Tyrel James The evolution of the Congo- Kalahari Watershed: African mega-geomorphology |
| thesis_degree_str | Doctoral |
| title | The evolution of the Congo- Kalahari Watershed: African mega-geomorphology |
| title_full | The evolution of the Congo- Kalahari Watershed: African mega-geomorphology |
| title_fullStr | The evolution of the Congo- Kalahari Watershed: African mega-geomorphology |
| title_full_unstemmed | The evolution of the Congo- Kalahari Watershed: African mega-geomorphology |
| title_short | The evolution of the Congo- Kalahari Watershed: African mega-geomorphology |
| title_sort | evolution of the congo kalahari watershed african mega geomorphology |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8695 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT flugeltyreljames theevolutionofthecongokalahariwatershedafricanmegageomorphology AT flugeltyreljames evolutionofthecongokalahariwatershedafricanmegageomorphology |