The Erosional and Depositional Potential of Holocene Tibetan Megafloods Through the Yarlung Tsangpo Gorge, Eastern Himalaya: Insights From 2D Hydraulic Simulations
Susannah Morey, Katharine W. Huntington, Michael D. Turzewski, Mahathi Mangipudi, David R. Montgomery
Abstract
Abstract Profound effects of episodic megafloods (≥10 6 m 3 /s) have been observed on Earth and Mars. Quaternary megafloods sourced from valley‐blocking glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau likely play an important role in the geomorphic evolution of the Yarlung‐Tsangpo Gorge and mountain landscape of the eastern Himalaya. We use the first 2D numerical simulation of a megaflood sourced from a reconstructed 81 km 3 Tibetan lake to analyze flood hydraulics and examine the erosional and depositional potential of megafloods in mountain landscapes. The simulated flood has a duration >60 hr and a peak discharge of 3.1 × 10 6 m 3 /s. We find that the extent of inundated features like terraces, narrow valley sections, tight meander bends, and overtopped ridges influences locations of observed maximum depth (370 m), speed (76 m/s), and bed shear stress (>100 kPa), creating dynamic patterns of erosive potential. Consequently, it is difficult to predict local (≤1 km) patterns of megaflood erosional potential from either unit stream power or flood power from smaller magnitude outburst floods. However, both are useful when predicting regional (≥25 km) order‐of‐magnitude shifts in megaflood flood power. Portions of the flood domain downstream of the Gorge experience lower bed shear stresses and flood power <5 kW/m 2 , indicating potential for significant deposition. We suggest widespread deposition of boulders within the modern channel and fine‐grained particles on hillslopes during a megaflood likely impedes subsequent erosion and affects channel width and longitudinal form throughout the flood pathway. Our findings show the legacy of megaflooding in mountainous terrain includes both extensive erosion and deposition.