Złożona geneza głębokości dolin zachodniego Podhala

Abstract

Two groups of valleys of different importance have been distinguished in Podhale: main, transit, of mountainuous type and tributaries, flowing in whole in Podhale, of plateau type. Their depths are spatially differentiated in spite of common, local erosional base and many similar features of natural environment. Depths of valleys decrease with decreasing profile gradient (fig. 1 ) in the conditions of similar hydrodynamic features as the comparison between that parameter with decrease of longitudinal profile pointed out. In valleys with greater gradient there are more rocky river-beds. There is a close connection of shallowing valleys which are more to the west with the distance from erosional base which is in the eastern part of Podhale. It is an evidence that relative hydrodynamical balance of rivers is stabilized and the dynamics of river-bed processes is stabilized as well. Similarity of river gradients of all analyzed rivers presented on the cross-section (fig. 2) confirms that statement.