Fluvial terraces typology

Abstract

The article revises the fluvial terraces' terminology and typology. A geomorphological classification is introduced, consisting of two classes, four types and eight sub-types of the terraces. Criteria of the classes and types identification are formulated in terms of dynamic phases of alluvium, load budget changes in the course of fluvial processes, structure and thickness of alluvium, morphological features of surfaces. A necessity is argued to unify the geomorphological content of various fluvial terraces types, including accumulative, equilibrium accumulative, erosional accumulative, erosional types.