Carpathian Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences

The analysis of longitudinal profiles can provide extremely useful information about the involvement of geological (lithology, structure, tectonics) and geomorphological controlling factors in the evolution of hydrographic networks. Depending on the characteristics of the controlling factors involved, several anomalies may appear along the longitudinal profiles, related to the existence of sectors with steeper gradients. The present study aims to identify and analyse the origin of the anomalies along the longitudinal profiles of 115 rivers in the Trotuș catchment, located in the central-eastern part of the Eastern Carpathians. These anomalies, depending on their appearance, are named knickpoints and knickzones. These anomalies were identified on the basis of established indices such as the SL or SL/K index. The values of these indices were ranked according to several criteria (maximum values, mean values, standard deviation) in order to finally choose the thresholds above which these anomalies were evident along the longitudinal profiles analysed. The most evident anomalies, corresponding to the highest values of these indices, were precisely located along the profiles and then analysed according to several geological and geomorphological control factors (e.g., elevation classes). For most of these anomalies, a close relationship with the existence of lithological features with appreciable resistance to erosion or tectonic thrust lines was determined. The superposition of the Trotuș Basin over the Carpathians flysch (made up of several thrust nappes) and the Carpathian Molasse explains very well the localisation and origin of these anomalies.

Dan DUMITRIU (2025). LITHO-STRUCTURAL CONTROL ON THE LONGITUDINAL PROFILES OF THE TROTUȘ RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES, EASTERN CARPATHIANS, Carpathian Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences August 2025 Vol. 20, No. 2, p. 385 – 398; https://doi.org/10.26471/cjees/2025/020/341