Assessment of channel changes in a Mediterranean ephemeral stream since the early twentieth century. The Rambla de Cervera, eastern Spain

•Aerial photographs and GIS were used to quantify changes in stream corridor.•The Rambla de Cervera channel losts width (68.5%) and surface area (45.7%).•The incision processes occurred along the study reach at an average depth of 3.5 m.•Land use changes and gravel mining are the causal factors of the corridor changes.•Changes are forced by randomness in flood frequency.

An analysis of morphological changes during the last six decades is presented for a 16.5-km reach of the Rambla de Cervera, a Mediterranean ephemeral stream located in eastern Spain. Channel changes were analysed through a range of techniques, specifically the analysis of aerial photographs with geographical information systems (GIS) and comparison of topographic surveys. The gravel channel underwent a general decline over the study period, losing width (68.5%) and surface area (45.7%) caused by the development of established islands frequently attached to the floodplain. These morphological changes exhibit an interesting temporal variability, with a maximum decrease of the gravel channel in the period 1946-1956 and another narrowing stage between 1977 and 1991. Two periods (1956-1977 and 1991-2006) also had mixed performance. In addition, incision processes occurred along the entire study reach at an average depth of 3.5 m. Natural and human-induced factors producing contradictory effects are considered responsible for changes in the Rambla de Cervera.