THE ROLE OF ALLUVIAL FANS IN THE MOUNTAIN FLUVIAL SYSTEMS OF SOUTHEAST SPAIN: IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATIC CHANGE

The mountain fluvial systems of southeast Spain involve sediment supply from steep mountain slopes into headwater channels. Alluvial fans often occur where these headwater channels emerge from the mountain areas, and may influence the connectivity of the sediment transport system from the mountain source areas to the main lowland drainages. Critical in this role is whether the alluvial fans are aggrading or dissecting, and whether there is a break or continuity in the channel through the fan environment. Previous work has identified some of the factors influencing the behaviour of the alluvial fans in southeast Spain. This paper deals with the mountain front alluvial fans in the semi-arid areas of Murcia and Almeria provinces. It attempts, by mapping the location of alluvial fans, then their classification into aggrading or dissecting fans, to identify the extent to which the mountain fluvial systems are buffered by aggrading alluvial fans or exhibit channel continuity through the mountain front environment. It further considers the implications of climatically induced changes between aggradational and dissectional behaviour on alluvial fans.