Upper Pleistocene - Holocene erosion rates in the Guadix-Baza basin

Erosion rates in the Guadix-Baza basin have been calculated drawing on a volumetric estimation of sediment loss by river erosion since the late Pleistocene. On this purpose we have perform a reconstruction of the geometrical surface dated in 43 Ka and defined by a calcrete layer that capes the basin infilling. By comparing the reconstructed geomorphic surface and the present day topography we have calculated the volume of sediment lost by hidric erosion in the entire basin. The resulting erosion rate is 6.57 m3ha-1yr-1. Individual erosion rates for Guadix and Baza sub-basins (11.80 m3ha-1yr-1and 1.77 m3ha-1yr-1 respectively) suggest different stages of drainage pattern evolution in both sub-basins. We attribute the lower values obtained in the Baza sub-basin as related to the downthrowing of this sub-basin due to very recent activity along the Baza faul