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Abstract Profound effects of episodic megafloods (≥106 m3/s) have been observed on Earth and Mars. Quaternary megafloods sourced from valley‐blocking glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau likely play an important role in the geomorphic evolution of the Yarlung‐Tsangpo Gorge and mountain landscape of the eastern Himalaya. We use the first 2D numerical simulation of a megaflood sourced from a reconstructed 81 km3Tibetan lake to analyze flood hydraulics and examine the erosional and depositional potential of megafloods in mountain landscapes. The simulated flood has a duration >60 hr and a peak discharge of 3.1 × 106 m3/s. We find that the extent of inundated features like terraces, narrow valley sections, tight meander bends, and overtopped ridges influences locations of observed maximum depth (370 m), speed (76 m/s), and bed shear stress (>100 kPa), creating dynamic patterns of erosive potential. Consequently, it is difficult to predict local (≤1 km) patterns of megaflood erosional potential from either unit stream power or flood power from smaller magnitude outburst floods. However, both are useful when predicting regional (≥25 km) order‐of‐magnitude shifts in megaflood flood power. Portions of the flood domain downstream of the Gorge experience lower bed shear stresses and flood power <5 kW/m2, indicating potential for significant deposition. We suggest widespread deposition of boulders within the modern channel and fine‐grained particles on hillslopes during a megaflood likely impedes subsequent erosion and affects channel width and longitudinal form throughout the flood pathway. Our findings show the legacy of megaflooding in mountainous terrain includes both extensive erosion and deposition.
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This content will become publicly available on December 4, 2025
Erosional cascade during the 2021 Melamchi flood
In 2021 a catastrophic flood occurred in the Melamchi Valley of Nepal, causing widely distributed erosion in Himalayan headwaters and mobilizing a large sediment volume. As the flood progressed downstream it induced an erosional cascade, producing 100m deep incisions into high- elevation valley fills, generating new landslides, and burying the lower reaches in alluvium. This event demonstrated the destructive impact of cascading processes and their potential for reshaping the landscape.
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- PAR ID:
- 10561389
- Publisher / Repository:
- Nature Publishing Group
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Nature Geoscience
- ISSN:
- 1752-0894
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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