Climate forcing of fluvial system development: an evolution of ideas

Starting from traditional ideas on the climatic steering of fluvial system dynamics, it appears that there are different kinds of climatic influences on system dynamics. They vary from direct climatic forcing (like peak precipitation) to indirect (like permafrost) and partial forcing (like vegetation). Vegetation (or its absence), and not directly climate, is considered as the main cause of fluvial incision (or deposition) during temperate (or cold) periods. However, other external factors than climate and non-climatic factors, such as local basin characteristics (like subsoil lithology and relief), express their effects on the fluvial systems by their role in the energy balance of the river catchment. Finally, internal factors in fluvial system evolution (like thresholds and response time) should not be neglected. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.