Figure 2 . Schematic illustration of key aspects of complex
transient responses – defined in section 3.3 – that can result from
changes to a relatively bottom-heavy (a) or a top-heavy rainfall
gradient (b) – rainfall shown in inset. Horizontal grey bars highlight
resulting net change in fluvial relief (ΔR ) and maximum elevation
change (Δzsc ) along the center
of the profile. Colored circles mark positions ofxsc (yellow) and xzc (red)
that also demarcate segments of net divergent and convergent transient
adjustments – see text for definitions and discussion. Net modes of
transient adjustment are indicated along top axis. Note reversal at
position xzc (net incision downstream, net uplift
upstream); however, during transience, adjustment upstream ofxsc is variable with time. Inset shows both local
rainfall rate (P , blue) and upstream averaged rainfall
(\(\overline{P}\), black). P = \(\overline{P}\) for spatially
uniform rainfall; only P is depicted for initial rainfall.
Positions of xsc andxzc in inset correspond to those
along the profiles in the main figure. Note along-stream offset in
position where P and \(\overline{P}\) exceed the initial rainfall
rate, the latter corresponding toxsc . Also, note that the
difference between P and \(\overline{P}\) increases
systematically downstream.