Equilibrium of Self‐Formed, Single‐Thread, Sand‐Bed Rivers
Abstract Equilibrium geometry of single‐thread rivers with fixed width (engineered rivers) is determined with a flow resistance relation and a sediment transport relation, if characteristic discharge, sediment caliber and supply are specified. In self‐formed channels, however, channel width is not i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL094591 |
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| author | E. Viparelli E. C. Eke |
| author_facet | E. Viparelli E. C. Eke |
| author_sort | E. Viparelli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Equilibrium geometry of single‐thread rivers with fixed width (engineered rivers) is determined with a flow resistance relation and a sediment transport relation, if characteristic discharge, sediment caliber and supply are specified. In self‐formed channels, however, channel width is not imposed, and one more relation is needed to predict equilibrium geometry. Specifying this relation remains an open problem. Here we present a new model that brings together a coherent train of research progress over 35 years to predict equilibrium geometry of single‐thread rivers from the conservation of channel and floodplain material. Predicted channel geometries are comparable with field observations. In response to increasing floodplain width, sand load and grain size, the equilibrium slope increases, bankfull depth and width decrease. As the volume fraction content of mud in the sediment load increases, bankfull width‐to‐depth ratio and slope decrease suggesting that mud load has a strong control on channel patterns and bankfull geometry. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-032b546cf92a40b2bbf5acca46916eb8 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-032b546cf92a40b2bbf5acca46916eb82025-08-20T02:09:35ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072021-10-014820n/an/a10.1029/2021GL094591Equilibrium of Self‐Formed, Single‐Thread, Sand‐Bed RiversE. Viparelli0E. C. Eke1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of South Carolina Columbia SC USAIdaho Department of Labor Pocatello ID USAAbstract Equilibrium geometry of single‐thread rivers with fixed width (engineered rivers) is determined with a flow resistance relation and a sediment transport relation, if characteristic discharge, sediment caliber and supply are specified. In self‐formed channels, however, channel width is not imposed, and one more relation is needed to predict equilibrium geometry. Specifying this relation remains an open problem. Here we present a new model that brings together a coherent train of research progress over 35 years to predict equilibrium geometry of single‐thread rivers from the conservation of channel and floodplain material. Predicted channel geometries are comparable with field observations. In response to increasing floodplain width, sand load and grain size, the equilibrium slope increases, bankfull depth and width decrease. As the volume fraction content of mud in the sediment load increases, bankfull width‐to‐depth ratio and slope decrease suggesting that mud load has a strong control on channel patterns and bankfull geometry.https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL094591channel geometrysand‐bed riverssingle‐thread riversAlluvial equilibriumbankfull geometry |
| spellingShingle | E. Viparelli E. C. Eke Equilibrium of Self‐Formed, Single‐Thread, Sand‐Bed Rivers Geophysical Research Letters channel geometry sand‐bed rivers single‐thread rivers Alluvial equilibrium bankfull geometry |
| title | Equilibrium of Self‐Formed, Single‐Thread, Sand‐Bed Rivers |
| title_full | Equilibrium of Self‐Formed, Single‐Thread, Sand‐Bed Rivers |
| title_fullStr | Equilibrium of Self‐Formed, Single‐Thread, Sand‐Bed Rivers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Equilibrium of Self‐Formed, Single‐Thread, Sand‐Bed Rivers |
| title_short | Equilibrium of Self‐Formed, Single‐Thread, Sand‐Bed Rivers |
| title_sort | equilibrium of self formed single thread sand bed rivers |
| topic | channel geometry sand‐bed rivers single‐thread rivers Alluvial equilibrium bankfull geometry |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL094591 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT eviparelli equilibriumofselfformedsinglethreadsandbedrivers AT eceke equilibriumofselfformedsinglethreadsandbedrivers |