The South Småland peneplain (Swedish: Sydsmåländska peneplanet) is a large flattish erosion surface, a peneplain, formed during the Tertiary, covering large swathes of southern Småland and nearby areas in Southern Sweden.[1][2] To the east the South Småland peneplain bounds with the Sub-Cambrian peneplain uphill across an escarpment.[3] While is almost as flat as the Sub-Cambrian peneplain the South Småland peneplain differs in that it contains far more residual hills and that it has never been covered by sedimentary rocks.[3][2] To the south and west (chiefly Halland and Blekinge) the peneplain transitions into Mesozoic-aged hilly surfaces.[2]
In a 2013 study the surface is described as extending over an altitude range of 100 to 150 meters above sea level,[2] while in a subsequent 2017 study the main surface is said to range from 175 to 125 m a.s.l. with a lower level at 100 m a.s.l. existing in near the Blekinge-Småland border.[4] The South Småland peneplain is the lowest surface in a piedmonttreppen or staircase of erosion surfaces that make up the South Swedish Dome. The level immediately above it is the 200 m peneplain, that is then followed by the 300 m peneplain and the crestal portion of the Sub-Cambrian peneplain.[4]
The western part of the peneplain is drained by the river Nissan while Bolmån drains the southwest. Mörrumsån drains eastern parts of peneplain.[3] It is possible that the Kvärkabäcken and Skäralid streams that traverses the Söderåsen horst in Scania are old antecedent rivers that once flowed through the South Småland peneplain.[5]
The existence of this plain was first noted by Sten De Geer in 1913 who termed it Smålands urbergslätt.[2]
See also
References
- ^ Lidmar-Bergström, Karna. "Sydsmåländska peneplanet". Nationalencyklopedin (in Swedish). Cydonia Development. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e Lidmar-Bergström, Karna; Bonow, Johan M.; Japsen, Peter (2013). "Stratigraphic Landscape Analysis and geomorphological paradigms: Scandinavia as an example of Phanerozoic uplift and subsidence". Global and Planetary Change. 100: 153–171.
- ^ a b c Lidmar-Bergström (1988). "Denudation surfaces of a shield area in southern Sweden". Geografiska Annaler. 70 A (4): 337–350.
- ^ a b Lidmar-Bergström, Karna; Olvmo, Mats; Bonow, Johan M. (2017). "The South Swedish Dome: a key structure for identification of peneplains and conclusions on Phanerozoic tectonics of an ancient shield". GFF.
- ^ Lidmar-Bergström, Karna; Elvhage, Christian; Ringberg, Bertil (1991). "Landforms in Skåne, South Sweden". Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography. 73 (2): 61–91.