Vertical dynamics of the upper Olt River channel

The upper course of the Olt River traverses two major intramontane depressions in the Carpathians: the Ciuc Depression and the Brașov Depression, separated by the Tușnad Gorge. The differentiated origin of the surrounding mountainous areas is reflected in the characteristics of the relief and the substratum, which directly influence the vertical dynamics of the river channel. The analysis focuses on cross-sections at four hydrometric stations: Tomești, Sâncrăieni, Micfalău, and Feldioara. Based on the difference between water level elevation and maximum depth, the thickness of the rock layer (hp) was calculated relative to the zero datum of the hydrometric gauge. The monthly variation of this value expresses channel aggradation in the respective sections. Differences are identified with respect to the range of vertical dynamics, characteristic periods, and linear and polynomial trends.