Debris flow erosion and deposition in Jiangjia Gully, Yunnan, China

The erosion and deposition of debris flows at Jiangjia Gully in Dongchuan section of Yunnan province, southwestern China, was surveyed at 12 cross sections from 1999 to 2003. Deposition occurred in most sections because of the low debris-flow magnitude. The result was an increase in their elevations except for two sections at D17 and D19, where the channel was diverted in September 1999. As the annual sediment discharge of debris flow increased, the deposited volume decreased in the upper channel and increased in the lower channel. In each debris flow event, the erosion or deposition at the upper and the lower channel were different, but the eroded/deposited volume and the trend of erosion or deposition were similar between the neighboring sections. The average elevation change of all cross sections between consecutive surveys can reasonably represent the debris flow influence on the channel. Its relationship with the total sediment discharge between two surveys follows a three-stage pattern: when debris flow magnitude is small, deposition in the channel increases with the magnitude. When the magnitude reaches a certain level, the deposition begins to decrease and eventually erosion takes place. In three typical cross sections which had similar channel width, the debris flow showed a clear trend that the deposited volume decreased, while the eroded volume increased as the discharge of debris flow sediments increased.     

The sedimentary dynamics of active fluvial channels on the Okavango fan, Botswana

The 1800-km² Okavango alluvial fan of northern Botswana represents an unusual depositional setting in which peat-forming perennial swamps (6000 km²) occur in a region of aeolian and semi-arid sedimentation within an incipient graben of the East African Rift. A channel system distributes water and sediment on the fan surface but cannot contain seasonal flood water, which spreads laterally from the channels through permeable channel margins, sustaining the flanking swamps. All sediment introduced is deposited on the fan. A detailed study of sediment movement and associated hydrological conditions in the channels was undertaken to examine sediment dispersal. Bedload greatly exceeds suspended load (at least by a factor of four). Vegetation and peat form permeable levees which confine the channels. In the upper reaches, two-way exchange of water occurs between channel and swamp depending on the season, but on the fan itself, channels lose water to the swamp. Bedload measurements reveal that the channel system is in a state of grade disequilibrium, with interspersed depositional and erosional reaches. Deposition of most of the incoming bedload occurs on the upper portion of the fan in a meandering and anastomosed channel system, but on the midfan, deposition of bedload occurs by channel-bed aggradation, at a rate of up to 5 cm yr^–1. Further down slope, the channel enters a large lake where all remaining bedload is deposited. The presently observed sedimentation patterns may be due to a recent disturbance of the fluvial system, either by avulsion or neotectonics.     

Analysis of the triggering conditions and erosion of a runoff-triggered debris flow in Miyun County,Beijing, China

The occurrence of debris flow from channel-bed failure is occasionally noted in small and steeply sloping watersheds where channelized water flow dominates debris flow initiation. On August 12, 2016, a debris flow from channel-bed failures occurred in the Caozhuangzi Watershed of the Longtan Basin, Miyun, Beijing. Rainfall records over 10-min intervals and field investigations including channel morphology measurements were used to study the triggering conditions and erosion process. The results indicated that the occurrence of this event lagged the peak 10-min rainfall interval and that the cumulative rainfall prior to the occurrence time played an important role in its formation. A mean 10-min rainfall intensity–duration expression in the form of I₁₀?=?5.0?×?D^?0.21, where I₁₀ denotes the mean 10-min rainfall intensity and D is the rainfall duration ranging from 10 to 60 h, was proposed. The debris flows have low proportions of grain size fractions <?0.1 mm and higher fractions of grains 0.1–2 mm in size, indicating that the flow had low viscosity and was coarse-grain dominated. Channel morphology analysis revealed that abrupt changes in topography in the study area, including a steep section, a concave stream bank area, and a partial concave stream section were eroded more extensively than other sites. The maximum sediment erosion volume and erosion depth were not proportional to the variation in stream gradient. Consideration of the degree of erosion in the channel at sites with abrupt morphology changes, the maximum sediment erosion volume, and the erosion depth and volume at the initial channel site and downstream region of forest area together showed that the prime factor controlling erosion was entrained sediment volume. This work, thus, provides a case study regarding the triggering conditions of runoff-triggered debris flows and the topographical changes by debris flow erosion.     

Comparison of debris-flow volume and activity under different formation conditions

Debris flows frequently occurred in Wenchuan earthquake region from 2008 to 2010, resulting in great damage to localities and being a prolonged threat to reconstruction. Forty three events' data including debris-flow volume, sediment volume and watershed area are analyzed and compared with other debris-flow events in Eastern Italian Alps, burned areas in USA and in Taiwan. The analysis reveals that there is a strong empirical relationship between debris-flow volume and loose materials volume in the earthquake region. In addition, the relationship between debris-flow volume and watershed area in the earthquake region has a wider variation range than that in other three regions while the debris volume also appears to be larger than that in the other three regions, which implies the volume of debris flows with strong influence of earthquakes is larger than that with no such influence and it is hard to predict the post-quake volume only by the watershed area. The comparison of the maximal debris-flow erosion modulus in the Wenchuan region and in Taiwan indicates that debris flows will be very active in a short time after strong earthquake.     

黄河下游不同河段分组悬沙输移对河床冲淤的影响

小浪底水库运行后,坝下游分组悬沙输移特点发生改变,不同河段冲淤过程有所差别。基于1999—2018年坝下游实测水沙资料及固定淤积断面地形数据,分析汛期分组悬沙输移的沿程调整特点,建立分组悬沙输移及河床边界条件双重影响下不同河段河床累计冲淤量的计算关系。分析结果表明：(1)汛期各组沙输沙率远小于蓄水前,且中沙输沙率降幅最大,在各水文断面平均降幅为85%;沿程上细沙输沙率基本不恢复,而中沙和粗沙恢复距离分别到利津及艾山。(2)坝下游河床持续冲刷,各河段河床组成均发生不同程度的粗化;在拦沙后期(2007—2018年),游荡段和过渡段床沙中细沙和中沙占比不足5%,对悬沙几乎无补给作用,而弯曲段床沙对中沙仍有一定的补给能力。(3)下游各河段以冲刷下切为主,但调整幅度不同,故对水流的约束能力有所差异。建立了各河段累计冲淤量与前期河相系数及进口断面分组来沙系数的经验关系,并采用2019年下游水沙数据对公式进行了初步验证,公式能合理反映断面形态与分组悬沙输移对河床累计冲淤过程的影响。     

The role of geomorphic processes in the transport and fate of mercury in the Carson River basin, west-central Nevada

 The historic processing of precious metal ores mined from the Comstock Lode of west-central Nevada resulted in the release of substantial, but unquantified amounts of mercury-contaminated mill tailings to the Carson River basin. Geomorphic and stratigraphic studies indicate that the introduction of these waste materials led to a period of valley-floor aggradation that was accompanied by lateral channel instability. The combined result of these geomorphic responses was the storage of large volumes of mercury-enriched sediment within a complexly structured alluvial sequence located along the Carson River valley. Much of the contaminated sediment is associated with filled paleochannels produced by the cutoff and abandonment of meander loops, and their subsequent infilling with contaminated particles. Geochemically, these deposits are characterized by variations in mercury levels that exceed three orders of magnitude. Continued lateral instability, coupled with an episode of channel-bed incision, followed the decline of Comstock mining, and has reexposed contaminated debris within the banks of the river. Erosion of bank sediments reintroduces mercury-enriched particles to the modern channel bed. It is suggested on the basis of geochemical and sedimentological data that during the bank erosion process, much of the mercury associated with fine (<63 μ) valley-fill deposits are carried downstream without being incorporated to any appreciable extent within the channel-bed sediments. In contrast, mercury associated with larger and denser particles, particularly mercury-gold-silver amalgam grains, are accumulated in the channel-bed sediments as the river traverses polluted reaches of the Carson River valley. Concentration patterns developed along the modern channel indicate that the valley fill is the primary source of mercury to the river today. Thus, these data imply that efforts to reduce the influx of mercury to the aquatic environment should examine methods for reducing bank erosion rates. Received: 13 December 1996 · Accepted: 15 April 1997     

三峡水库运行初期的泥沙淤积特点

针对三峡蓄水运行后的泥沙淤积问题,基于实测资料,采用输沙率法和断面法分析了三峡水库运行初期的泥沙淤积特点.结果表明:三峡水库2003—2013年泥沙淤积总量为15.31亿t,平均排沙比为24.5%,均较论证阶段降低;库区泥沙淤积主要分布在常年回水区的宽谷和弯道河段,宽谷段全断面发生淤积、弯道断面流速较小一侧淤积、峡谷无累积性淤积;常年库区近坝段泥沙淤积速度逐年减小,而上段泥沙淤积速度则呈增大趋势;淤积物粒径沿程分选不明显,常年回水区淤积物中值粒径多在0.01 mm以下.库区峡谷段深泓线无明显变化、尚未出现泥沙淤积三角洲、库尾泥沙淤积上延和尾水抬高不明显,据此初步推断峡谷河段存在富余挟沙力而成为局部侵蚀基准面,整个库区将无统一平衡比降的趋势.     

Sedimentology of the debris-flow-dominated Warm Spring Canyon alluvial fan, Death Valley, California

Facies analysis of widely distributed exposures of the 32·6 km² and 8·1-km-long Warm Spring Canyon fan, central Death Valley, shows that it has been built principally by debris-flow deposits. These deposits were derived from a mature Panamint Range catchment mostly underlain by Precambrian mudrock, quartzite and dolomite. Stacked, clast-rich and matrix-supported debris-flow lobes of slightly bouldery, muddy, pebble–cobble gravel in beds 20–150 cm thick dominate the fan from apex to toe, accounting for 75–98% of most exposures. Interstratified with the debris flows are less abundant (2–25% of cuts), thinner (5–30 cm) and more discontinuous beds of clast-supported and imbricated, pebble–cobble gravel deposited by overland flows and gully flows. This facies formed by the surficial fine-fraction water winnowing of the debris flows primarily during recessional flood stage of the debris-flow events. Two other facies associations make up a small part of the fan. The incised-channel tract consists of a 250-m-wide clast-supported ribbon of irregularly to thickly bedded, boulder, pebble, cobble gravel nested within debris-flow deposits. This channel fill is oriented generally perpendicular to the Panamint range front. It formed by extensive erosion and winnowing of debris flows deposited within the incised channel, into which all water discharge from the catchment is funnelled. The limited presence of this facies only straddling the present incised channel indicates that this channel overall has maintained a consistent position on the fan except for slight lateral shifts, some caused by strike-slip offset. Fault offset temporarily closed the upper incised channel, causing recessional debris-flow mud to be ponded behind the dam. The other local facies assemblage consists of subrounded to rounded, moderately sorted pebble gravel in low-angle cross-beds that slope both basinwards and fanwards. This gravel was deposited in beachface, backshore and shoreface barrier-spit environments that developed where Lake Manly impinged on the Warm Spring fan during late Pleistocene time. These deposits straddle headcuts into, and were derived from, erosion of the debris-flow deposits. Wave energy sorted finer sediment from the shore zone, concentrated coarser sediment and rounded the coarse to very coarse pebble fraction by selective reworking.     

黄河口清水沟河道的冲淤过程与模拟

为揭示黄河口清水沟河道长时段的冲淤演变规律并建立其冲淤计算方法,分析了清水沟1976—2015年的时空冲淤演变过程,采用河床演变的滞后响应模型,考虑河口来水来沙及河道延伸与蚀退的影响,建立了清水沟累计冲淤量的计算方法。结果表明:1976—1980年改道初期清水沟改道点上游先冲后淤,改道点下游淤滩塑槽,淤积量随着下游河道展宽而增加,1980年后改道点上、下游河道冲淤过程趋于一致;受水沙条件等因素影响,1980—1986年清水沟主槽冲刷展宽,之后主槽淤积萎缩;1996年清八改汊和2002年小浪底水库"调水调沙"原型试验以来,河道转淤为冲,2002年后河道冲刷速率随时间指数衰减;河床演变的滞后响应模型可计算清水沟长时段的冲淤过程,该方法可为预测未来清水沟冲淤演变趋势提供科学参考。     

长江中下游河道冲淤演变的防洪效应

近年来长江中下游来沙量持续减少，河道面临长距离、长历时的冲淤调整，河道蓄泄关系发生变化，对防洪造成影响。在长江中下游河道冲淤及其蓄泄能力变化预测成果的基础上，对比计算了现状和未来河道蓄泄能力条件下，遇1954年洪水，长江上游水库防洪调度和中下游地区超额洪量的变化情况。结果表明，未来随着长江中下游河道进一步冲刷，河道槽蓄容积增加，相同防洪控制水位下的河道安全泄量增大，三峡水库在进行防洪调度时可下泄流量增大，总拦蓄洪量减小，长江中下游地区总超额洪量减小，但超额洪量在地区分布上存在从上游向下游转移的情况。     

长江中下游河道冲淤演变的防洪效应

近年来长江中下游来沙量持续减少,河道面临长距离、长历时的冲淤调整,河道蓄泄关系发生变化,对防洪造成影响。在长江中下游河道冲淤及其蓄泄能力变化预测成果的基础上,对比计算了现状和未来河道蓄泄能力条件下,遇1954年洪水,长江上游水库防洪调度和中下游地区超额洪量的变化情况。结果表明,未来随着长江中下游河道进一步冲刷,河道槽蓄容积增加,相同防洪控制水位下的河道安全泄量增大,三峡水库在进行防洪调度时可下泄流量增大,总拦蓄洪量减小,长江中下游地区总超额洪量减小,但超额洪量在地区分布上存在从上游向下游转移的情况。     

长江上游屏山至宜昌河道泥沙存贮量的变化及其地貌学意义

通过河流输沙分析研究了长江上游河道的悬移质泥沙存贮量及其变化。结果表明,1956～2000年屏山-宜昌河段历年的河道存贮量的变化可以划分为3个阶段,即两个泥沙存贮期和1个泥沙释放期。1956～1968年为第1个泥沙存贮期,河道泥沙存贮累积性增加,累计存贮量为4.0126×10⁸t,与这一时期人类活动导致的流域侵蚀加剧有密切的关系;1969～1983年为泥沙释放期,累积释放量为2.6533×10⁸t——支流水库大量修建,拦截了泥沙,下泄泥沙减少,进入长江干流的泥沙减少,含沙量降低,使得干流中前期存贮的泥沙发生侵蚀而释放;1984～2000年为第2个泥沙存贮期,累积存贮量为4.0733×10⁸t。金沙江下游重点产沙区产沙量增加,进入长江干流的泥沙增多,葛洲坝水库建成后投入运行,三峡水库大坝的建设,也导致长江干流河道中泥沙存贮量的增大。输入沙量、输出沙量和与流域面平均年降水量之间均存在较明显的正相关关系,而存贮量与降水量不相关,说明河道泥沙存贮对于降水量的变化不敏感。屏山-宜昌河道泥沙输移比的时间变化大致可以分为两个阶段,即在1956～1982年河道泥沙输移比呈增加趋势,1983～2000年则呈减小趋势。这种变化可以用河道泥沙存贮的变化来解释。长江上游屏山-宜昌河段河道泥沙存贮的时间变化与中游宜昌-武汉河段泥沙冲淤量的时间变化相位在一定程度上是相反的,说明上游河道泥沙存贮增多会导致中游河道泥沙存贮减少,上游河道泥沙存贮减少会导致中游河道泥沙存贮增多。     

The grain–fluid interaction as a self-stabilizing mechanism in fluvial bed load transport

A grain-scale model of fluvial bed load transport is described, with particular emphasis on the equilibrium between the saltating grains and the near bed flow, and its role in determining transport rate. The model calculates, explicitly, the modification of the velocity profile by the moving grains, together with the consequential reduction in surface fluid shear stress. As the surface fluid shear stress is reduced by the moving grains, so the entrainment rate decreases and the model reaches a steady state. The results provide insight into two important questions at a macroscopic level. First, they show that, in the absence of large static roughness, the dynamic roughness caused by the moving grains may be a significant contributor to flow resistance. Secondly, the model indicates the manner in which transport may be limited by a combination of the transport capacity of the flow and the availability of sediment for entrainment. Only in the case of high sediment availability does the fluid shear stress acting at the surface approach the critical entrainment value, reproducing the behaviour suggested by Bagnold (1956 ) and Owen (1964 ). This suggests that prediction formulae based on this assumption only describe the bed load transport system under particular conditions.     

水沙调节后荆江典型河道横向调整过程的响应——Ⅰ. 二、三维耦合模型的建立

三峡水库蓄水运用后,下游河道来水来沙条件均会发生改变,从而影响河道河势演变过程(包括垂向冲淤变化以及横向调整过程)。为解决长河道因岸滩崩塌引起的河势演变模拟问题,依据水位、流量及输沙量守恒和河床及河岸变形连续等条件,提出虚拟断面连接法构建了考虑岸滩崩塌的二、三维嵌套河势研究数值模型。采用1996年10月~1998年10月沙市至新厂河段实测资料对模型进行了验证,模拟结果与实测结果吻合较好,从而为定量研究水沙条件变化对荆江河道横向调整过程的影响提供了技术支撑。     

Empirical Relationships for Debris Flows

The assessment of the debris flow hazard potential has to rely on semi-quantitative methods. Due to the complexity of the debris-flow process, numerical simulation models of debris flows are still limited with regard to practical applications. Thus, an overview is given of empirical relationships that can be used to estimate the most important parameters of debris-flow behavior. In a possible procedure, an assessment of a maximum debris-flow volume may be followed by estimates of the peak discharge, the mean flow velocity, the total travel distance, and the runout distance on the fan. The applicability of several empirical equations is compared with available field and laboratory data, and scaling considerations are used to discuss the variability of the parameters over a large range of values. Some recommendations are made with regard to the application of the presented relationships by practicing engineers, apart from advocating field reconnaissance and searching for historic events wherever possible.     

黄河下游漫滩高含沙洪水滩槽界定及泥沙时空沉积特性

黄河下游漫滩高含沙洪水河床调整剧烈,多数断面洪水后形成"相对窄深河槽",洪水前后河槽宽度发生明显变化。分别以观测断面洪水前后的河槽宽度为基准,计算漫滩高含沙洪水期泥沙时空沉积分布,结果表明,漫滩高含沙洪水与非漫滩高含沙洪水相比,能将主河槽内淤积泥沙量的59.3%搬运至嫩滩或滩地,减缓主河槽淤积。在分析研究基础上,建立了洪水后漫滩河段河槽相对缩窄率与洪水前期河槽宽度的量化关系,洪水后主槽宽度缩窄率为15.5%~44.0%;分析遴选了漫滩高含沙洪水滩地淤积量与主要水力因子间关联度及物理含义,给出了漫滩高含沙洪水滩地淤积量与相应水力因子间的响应函数;初步提出漫滩洪水河道塑槽淤滩的临界水沙配置指标,临界水沙系数取值为0.025~0.040。成果对高含沙洪水调控具有一定的指导意义。     

基于无人机航测黄河源弯曲河道泥沙亏损量计算

弯曲河流的河道冲淤变化在长时间尺度处于动态的平衡状况,其泥沙输移部分来自于凹岸冲刷与凸岸淤积的差值。2018年采用无人机航测获取黄河源典型弯曲河流(麦曲、哈曲、格曲和兰木错曲)连续弯道的低空影像数据,通过图像技术处理后生成高精度地形,进而提取单个弯道和连续弯道的断面地形,计算弯道凸、凹两侧断面面积和相邻断面间的差值。结果表明,凹岸侵蚀崩岸产生的泥沙量与凸岸点边滩淤积的泥沙量是不平衡的,即存在一个泥沙亏损量。对于单个弯道,兰木错曲单位河长的泥沙亏损量约为0.191 m^3,麦曲、哈曲和格曲单位河长的泥沙亏损量约为0.045 m^3,且相同河段的沿程亏损量具有不均匀性,其间接反映不同弯道横向的迁移速率具有差异性。     

Advanced Mathematical Models to Predict the Compaction Properties of Coarse-Grained Soils from Various Physical Properties

An essential task in the process of construction is the determination of compaction properties of soils. Many years of laboratory test experience strengthen our belief in the existence of predictive equations that govern the compaction characteristics of soils. An advanced mathematical model developed in this research in order to uncertain the governing equations. An advanced mathematical model developed in this research in order to uncertain the governing equations. Through a comparative study among a Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) model, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model, Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) and a Support Vector Machine (SVM) model, the best predicting model was determined. For this purpose, Six hundred and six (606) samples collected and split into a dataset used for training the models and another used for validation of the derived model. 8 neural networks with a varying number of hidden layers and a varying number of nodes in hidden layers were employed. In ELM 1 hidden layer with varying number of units were employed. It was found that the equations derived from the ELM models described the relationship with superiority over multiple regression, ANN and SVM models for Maximum Dry Density and MLR models described the relationship with superiority over ANN, ELM and SVM models for Optimum Moisture Content.     

Channel evolution of Des Moines Lobe till drainage ditches in southern Minnesota (USA)

Some drainage ditches in the intensively managed row-crop agricultural region of southern Minnesota evolved from a trapezoidal form to multi-staged channel forms similar to natural streams. Older ditches constructed in cohesive sediment of the Des Moines Lobe till tend to follow a channel evolution model developed by Simon and Hupp. Site cross sections, longitudinal water and bed profiles and bed material particle size were determined according to Harrelson and others at 24 older ditch reaches, 5 newly constructed ditch reaches and 13 natural stream reaches. Morphological features were hypothesized to change from trapezoidal form to flat bench banks, similar to benches found in natural stream channels. All data were statistically analyzed with respect to drainage area using regression, because channel form is directly related to drainage area for a given climate, geology and land use. Results show similar regression slope and intercept for bankfull channel width and bankfull cross-sectional area (CSA) of older ditches and natural streams compared to typical trapezoidal designed ditches. Evolved ditches developed a small floodplain bench above the ditch bed and adjusted their bankfull widths similar to natural stream channels with respect to drainage area. Old ditches showed a relatively strong R ² (0.82, 0.68) for channel CSA and width, a weaker R ² (0.45) for water surface slope, and little to no correlation with bed particle size. Channel form appears to have adjusted more quickly than bed facets and/or bed particle size distribution. However, stepwise regression determined that D₈₄, width/depth ratio and mean bankfull depth explained 83?% of the variability of channel features across varying drainage areas. Findings suggest a possible reduction of long-term maintenance costs if older ditches are allowed to evolve over time. A stable ditch form similar to natural streams is typically self-sustaining, suggesting that prior to a scheduled clean-out, the ditch should be examined for hydraulic capacity, sediment transport and bank stability.     

黄河下游河槽萎缩与水沙条件关系初步分析

根据黄河下游实测资料分析河槽萎缩变化,采用断面过水面积、同流量(Q=3000m3/s)水位作为河槽萎缩指标,利用水沙系数(平均含沙量与平均流量比值)反映水沙条件变化,建立了河槽萎缩指标与水沙系数的关系,表明河槽萎缩指标与水沙系数有一定的变化规律。