Sinuosity evolution along an incising channel: New insights from the Jordan River response to the Dead Sea level fall

Abstract The geomorphic evolution of the Jordan River in recent decades indicates that interaction between incision and high‐magnitude floods controls sinuosity changes under increasing mouth gradients during base‐level fall. The evolution of the river was analyzed based on digital elevation models, remotely sensed imagery, hydrometric data, and a hydraulic model. The response varies along the river. Near the river mouth, where incision rate is high and a deep channel forms, overbank flooding is less likely. There, large floods exert high shear stress within the confined channel, increasing sinuosity. Upstream, near the migrating knickzone channel gradients also increase, incision is more moderate and floods continue to overtop the banks, favoring meander chute cutoffs. The resulting channel has a downstream well‐confined meandering segment and an upstream low‐sinuosity segment. These new insights regarding spatial differences along an incising channel can improve interpretations of the evolution of ancient planforms and floodplains that responded to base‐level decline. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.