Numerical simulations of flow motion and deposition characteristics of granular debris flows

Flow motion and deposition characteristics of debris flows are of concern regarding land use planning and management. A simple model for the prediction of mentioned characteristics has been developed, incorporating a friction–collision rheological model. It demonstrated to be able to satisfactorily simulate the two-dimensional behavior of laboratory results and the one-dimensional behavior of two real debris-flow events. The numerical results show that the topography of the channel bed, the yield stress level of the debris flows, and the inflow pattern have significant influence on the simulated flow motion and deposition characteristics of debris flows. In addition, the predicted run-out distance has been compared with analytical solutions and field observations. The model could be employed for the preliminary evaluation of one-dimensional run-out distance of granular debris flows provided that the volume of the debris involved in the initial mobilization is assumed.     

Research on prediction of debris flows triggered in channels

The accurate prediction of debris flows occurrence that will allow the reduction or prevention of economic losses and human casualties is presently the most difficult aspect of debris flows studies but also the aspect that receives most attention. Most prediction methods are based on rainfall as the basic parameter, with the moment of occurrence as only result, and without a prediction of debris flow travel time and size. This paper takes Jiangjia Gully in Dongchuan of Yunnan Province as an example, and considers, on the basis of the fulfillment of the essential condition: the abundant availability of loose materials, the conditions for the formation of debris flows. Based on the mechanism of the initiation of debris flows in channels and the volume of rainfall in the basin, this paper also gives a systematic analysis on the travel time and size of the debris flow and suggests that the hydrological condition for forming debris flow is the unit discharge of the flood ≥0.35 m³/s.m. It uses the 10-min rainfall intensity to calculate both the run-off of the rainfall and the unit discharge caused by the run-off, thus predicting the occurrence of debris flows. The velocity and the travel time of a debris flow can also be determined using the unit discharge of the run-off. The total volume of debris flows can be calculated using the 10-min intensity of rainfall and the total volume of the run-off, together with the volume concentration of the sediment in a debris flow.     

川藏铁路某车站泥石流群发育特征及对线路的影响

川藏铁路某车站位于藏东南冻错曲沟谷内,处于泥石流集中暴发区。采用现场调查、遥感解译等方法对影响车站的泥石流群孕灾环境和发育特征进行了深入研究。结果表明:该区以发育包括10条暴雨型泥石流与2条冰湖溃决泥石流在内的泥石流群为特征,地形地貌、水源动力和物源对泥石流群的发育起主要控制性作用。泥石流沟的流域形态完整系数集中在0.15～0.55之间,多为长条形与栎叶形,沟床的纵比降整体偏大,有利于泥石流的水源汇聚和发生。而泥石流流域内的沟道岸坡坡度多为20°～40°,相对有利于泥石流物源的补给。对该泥石流群中的12条泥石流沟进行动力学参数计算,分析其运动特征和发展趋势,认为该泥石流群的堆积扇普遍比较明显且未修建防治工程,在极端暴雨条件下,再次暴发较大规模泥石流的可能性大。最后评价了单沟暴发及冻错曲两岸对冲暴发场景下泥石流群对线路的潜在工程影响并给出了防治对策,建议线路在穿越泥石流沟部位布设排导槽或停淤堤进行束流归流,并对桥墩做好迎水面防块石撞击措施。研究结果对川藏铁路泥石流防治工程规划设计具有一定指导意义,也可为山区交通干线的合理选线提供科学依据。     

Autogenic avulsion,channelization and backfilling dynamics of debris‐flow fans

Alluvial fans develop their semi‐conical shape by quasi‐cyclic avulsions of their geomorphologically active sector from a fixed fan apex. On debris‐flow fans, these quasi‐cyclic avulsions are poorly understood, partly because physical scale experiments on the formation of fans have been limited largely to turbidite and fluvial fans and deltas. In this study, debris‐flow fans were experimentally created under constant extrinsic forcing, and autogenic sequences of backfilling, avulsion and channelization were observed. Backfilling, avulsion and channelization were gradual processes that required multiple successive debris‐flow events. Debris flows avulsed along preferential flow paths given by the balance between steepest descent and flow inertia. In the channelization phase, debris flows became progressively longer and narrower because momentum increasingly focused on the flow front as flow narrowed, resulting in longer run‐out and deeper channels. Backfilling commenced when debris flows reached their maximum possible length and channel depth, as defined by channel slope and debris‐flow volume and composition, after which they progressively shortened and widened until the entire channel was filled and avulsion was initiated. The terminus of deposition moved upstream because the frontal lobe deposits of previous debris flows created a low‐gradient zone forcing deposition. Consequently, the next debris flow was shorter which led to more in‐channel sedimentation, causing more overbank flow in the next debris flow and resulting in reduced momentum to the flow front and shorter runout. This topographic feedback is similar to the interaction between flow and mouth bars forcing backfilling and transitions from channelized to sheet flow in turbidite and fluvial fans and deltas. Debris‐flow avulsion cycles are governed by the same large‐scale topographic compensation that drives avulsion cycles on fluvial and turbidite fans, although the detailed processes are unique to debris‐flow fans. This novel result provides a basis for modelling of debris‐flow fans with applications in hazards and stratigraphy.     

西非Rio Muni盆地深水水道特征与成因

深水水道沉积构型及其演化一直是沉积学界研究的热点。基于Rio Muni盆地深水区470 km²高分辨率三维地震数据,在精细地震解释的基础上,对研究区发育的深水水道的沉积构型、演化进行探讨。主要取得4点认识：(1)深水水道的弯曲度主要受控于物源供给和海底坡度,研究区发育弯曲水道、顺直水道2类深水水道;(2)起源于陆架边缘的深水水道,物源供给相对充分,弯曲度高,其剖面往往不对称,水道壁发育滑塌或阶地,垂向演化具有侧向迁移特征,发育废弃水道;(3)而起源于中上陆坡的深水水道,其弯曲度低,剖面具有U形特征,水道壁光滑无滑塌或阶地, 主要以垂向加积为主。由于物源供给不足,顺直水道逐渐被深海泥质披覆沉积充填;(4)同一条深水水道,由上陆坡向下陆坡,随着海底坡度的降低,其弯曲度呈增大趋势。     

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.     

An integrated model to assess critical rainfall thresholds for run-out distances of debris flows

A dramatic increase in debris flows occurred in the years after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in SW China due to the deposition of loose co-seismic landslide material. This paper proposes a preliminary integrated model, which describes the relationship between rain input and debris flow run-out in order to establish critical rain thresholds for mobilizing enough debris volume to reach the basin outlet. The model integrates in a simple way rainfall, surface runoff, and concentrated erosion of the loose material deposited in channels, propagation, and deposition of flow material. The model could be calibrated on total volumes of debris flow materials deposited at the outlet of the Shuida catchment during two successive rain events which occurred in August 2011. The calibrated model was used to construct critical rainfall intensity-duration graphs defining thresholds for a run-out distance until the outlet of the catchment. Model simulations show that threshold values increase after successive rain events due to a decrease in erodible material. The constructed rainfall intensity-duration threshold graphs for the Shuida catchment based on the current situation appeared to have basically the same exponential value as a threshold graph for debris flow occurrences, constructed for the Wenjia catchment on the basis of 5 observed triggering rain events. This may indicate that the triggering mechanism by intensive run-off erosion in channels in this catchment is the same. The model did not account for a supply of extra loose material by landslips transforming into debris flow or reaching the channels for transportation by run-off. In August 2012, two severe rain events were measured in the Shuida catchment, which did not produce debris flows. This could be confirmed by the threshold diagram constructed by the model.     

Wildfire impacts on the processes that generate debris flows in burned watersheds

Every year, and in many countries worldwide, wildfires cause significant damage and economic losses due to both the direct effects of the fires and the subsequent accelerated runoff, erosion, and debris flow. Wildfires can have profound effects on the hydrologic response of watersheds by changing the infiltration characteristics and erodibility of the soil, which leads to decreased rainfall infiltration, significantly increased overland flow and runoff in channels, and movement of soil. Debris-flow activity is among the most destructive consequences of these changes, often causing extensive damage to human infrastructure. Data from the Mediterranean area and Western United States of America help identify the primary processes that result in debris flows in recently burned areas. Two primary processes for the initiation of fire-related debris flows have been so far identified: (1) runoff-dominated erosion by surface overland flow; and (2) infiltration-triggered failure and mobilization of a discrete landslide mass. The first process is frequently documented immediately post-fire and leads to the generation of debris flows through progressive bulking of storm runoff with sediment eroded from the hillslopes and channels. As sediment is incorporated into water, runoff can convert to debris flow. The conversion to debris flow may be observed at a position within a drainage network that appears to be controlled by threshold values of upslope contributing area and its gradient. At these locations, sufficient eroded material has been incorporated, relative to the volume of contributing surface runoff, to generate debris flows. Debris flows have also been generated from burned basins in response to increased runoff by water cascading over a steep, bedrock cliff, and incorporating material from readily erodible colluvium or channel bed. Post-fire debris flows have also been generated by infiltration-triggered landslide failures which then mobilize into debris flows. However, only 12% of documented cases exhibited this process. When they do occur, the landslide failures range in thickness from a few tens of centimeters to more than 6 m, and generally involve the soil and colluvium-mantled hillslopes. Surficial landslide failures in burned areas most frequently occur in response to prolonged periods of storm rainfall, or prolonged rainfall in combination with rapid snowmelt or rain-on-snow events.     

Identification of the affected areas by mass movement through a physically based model of landslide hazard combined with an empirical model of debris flow

In tropical areas, mass movements are common phenomena, especially during periods of heavy rainfall, which frequently take place in the summer season. These phenomena have caused loss of life and serious damage to infrastructure and properties. The most prominent of these phenomena are landslides that can produce debris flows. Thus, this article aims at determining affected areas using a model to predict landslide prone areas (SHALSTAB) combined with an empirical model designed to define the debris flow travel distance and area of deposition. The methodology of this work consists of the following steps: (a) elaboration of a digital elevation model (DEM), (b) application of the deterministic SHALSTAB model to locate the landslide prone areas, (c) identification of the debris flow travel distance and area of deposition, and (d) mapping of the affected areas (landslides and debris flows). This work was developed in an area in which many mass movements occurred after intense rainfall during the summer season (February 1996) in the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeast Brazil. All of the scars produced by that event were mapped, allowing for validation of the applied models. The model results show that the mapped landslide locations can adequately be simulated by the model.     

Mechanisms and runout characteristics of the rainfall-triggered debris flow in Xiaojiagou in Sichuan Province, China

The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake induced a large number of landslides, and a vast amount of loose landslide materials deposited on steep hill slopes or in channels. Such loose materials can become sources of deadly debris flows once triggered by storms. On 13 August 2010, a storm swept Yingxiu and its vicinity, triggering a catastrophic debris flow with a volume of 1.17?million?m³ in Xiaojiagou Ravine. The debris flow buried 1,100?m of road, blocked a river and formed a debris flow barrier lake. A detailed field study was conducted to understand the initiation mechanisms and runout characteristics of this debris flow. Two types of debris flows are identified, namely hill-slope debris flow and channelized debris flow. The hill-slope debris flow was triggered in the forms of firehose effect, rilling and landsliding, whereas the channelized debris flow was triggered in the form of channel-bed failure. This debris flow was a water?Crock flow since most particles were gravel, cobble or larger rocks and the fraction of silt and clay was less than 2%. Grain contact friction, pore-pressure effects and inertial grain collision were the three most important physical interactions within the debris flow. Such interactions yielded a smaller runout distance (593?m) compared with those of mud?Crock flows of similar size.     

汶川震区典型泥石流动态演变特征研究——以绵竹市走马岭泥石流为例

汶川地震后,流域内产生大量松散物源,使走马岭沟由一季节性冲沟演变为一条潜在泥石流沟,在地震后的3个汛期内发生多次泥石流,并造成灾害,其中以2008-9-24泥石流和2010-8-13泥石流最为严重。本文利用3期遥感影像并结合野外调查,对走马岭沟泥石流的形成条件进行了论述,对比分析了走马岭泥石流沟2008年、2009年、2010年3个汛期后流域的动态变化特征,主要表现为:(1)在不同降雨强度下,走马岭泥石流具有复合型物源区启动方式,并先从局部性支沟发生泥石流,进而演变为整个流域全面暴发泥石流。(2)经历了2008年、2009年、2010年3个雨季后,走马岭流域物源储量及物源供给形式发生变化,其中崩塌规模增加了1.87%; 滑坡增加了25.35%; 沟道及坡面松散堆积减少了67.47%,减少部分大部分转化为泥石流沟道堆积物。(3)不同降雨强度下,走马岭泥石流堆积区范围边界变化明显,且不同堆积扇间存在叠加关系; 结合走马岭"9·24"堆积扇范围和"8·13"堆积扇前缘堆积痕迹及影像特征,推测出走马岭"8·13"堆积扇堆积面积约8.76×104m2。最后对泥石流成因机理及发展趋势进行了初步分析。结果显示,走马岭为一高频泥石流沟,仍具备形成大规模泥石流的条件。     

Flow and sediment dynamics in a low sinuosity, braided river: Calamus River, Nebraska Sandhills

The interaction between channel geometry, flow, sediment transport and deposition associated with a midstream island was studied in a braided to meandering reach of the Calamus River, Nebraska Sandhills. Hydraulic and sediment transport measurements were made over a large discharge range using equipment operated from catwalk bridges. The relatively low sinuosity channel on the right-hand side of the island carries over 70% of the water discharge at high flow stages and 50–60% at low flow stages. As a result, mean velocity, depth, bed shear stress and sediment transport rate tend to be greater here than in the more strongly curved left-hand channel. The loci of maximum flow velocity, depth and bed shear stress are near the centre of the channel upstream of the island, but then split and move towards the outer banks of both channels downstream. Variations in these loci depend on the flow stage. Topographically induced across-stream flows are generally stronger than the weak, curvature-induced secondary circulations. Water surface topography is controlled mainly by centrifugal accelerations and local changes in downstream flow velocity. The averaged water surface slope of the study reach varies very little with discharge, having values between 0·00075 and 0·00090. As bed shear stress generally varies in a similar way to mean velocity, friction coefficients vary little, normally being in the range 0·07–0·13. These values are similar to those in straight channels with sandy dune-covered beds. Bedload is moved mainly as dunes at all flow stages. Grain size is mainly medium sand with coarse sand moved in thalwegs adjacent to the cut banks, and with fine sand at the downstream end of the island. These patterns of flow velocity, depth, water surface topography, bed shear stress, bedload transport rate and mean grain size can be accurately predicted using theoretical models of flow, bed topography and sediment transport rate in single river bends, applied separately to the left and right channels. During high flow stages deposition occurs persistently near the downstream end of the island, and cut banks are eroded. Otherwise, erosion and deposition occurs only locally within the channel as discharge varies. Abandonment and filling of a strongly curved channel segment may occur by migration of an upstream bar into the channel entrance at a high flow stage.     

The mobility of long-runout landslides

Several issues relevant to the mobility of long-runout landslides are examined. A central idea developed in this paper is that the apparent coefficient of friction (ratio of the fall height to the runout distance) commonly used to describe landslide mobility is physically meaningless. It is proposed that the runout distance depends primarily on the volume and not on the fall height, which just adds scatter to the correlation. The negative correlation observed between the apparent coefficient of friction and the volume is just due to the fact that, on the gentle slopes on which landslides travel and come to rest, a large increase in runout distance due to a large volume corresponds to a small increase in the total fall height, hence to a decrease in the apparent coefficient of friction.

It is shown that the spreading of a fluid-absent, granular flow is not able to explain the large runout distances of landslides, and in particular does not allow the centre of mass to travel further than expected for a sliding block. This contrasts with the behaviour of natural landslides, for which the centre of mass is shown to travel much further than expected from a simple Coulomb model. The presence of an interstitial fluid which can partly or entirely support the load of particles allows the effective coefficient of solid friction to be reduced or even suppressed. Air is not efficient for fluidising large landslides and a loose debris cannot slide over a basal layer of entrapped and compressed air, as air would rapidly pass through the debris in the form of bubbles during batch sedimentation. Water is much more efficient as a fluidising medium due to its higher density and viscosity, and its incompressibility. As water is known to enhance the mobility of the saturated debris flows, it is proposed that water is also responsible for the long runout of landslides. This is consistent with the fact that the increase in runout with volume is similar for debris flows and landslides. Field evidence suggests that most landslides are unsaturated with water but not dry, even on Mars.

Comparison of the velocity of well-documented landslides with that predicted by fluid-absent, granular models shows that these models predict landslides that are much faster and less responsive to topography than natural ones. The relatively low velocities of landslides suggest that energy dissipation is dominated by a velocity-dependent stress and that the coefficient of solid friction is very low. This is consistent with the physics of fluidised or partly fluidised debris and suggests that landslide velocity may be controlled by local slope and flow thickness rather than by the initial fall height. In the absence of a supply of fluid at the base, fluidisation requires a net downward flux of sediment, implying some deposition at the base of landslides, which may thus progressively run out of material. In such a model, the spreading of the portion of a landslide beyond a certain distance would primarily depend on the volume passing this distance and not on the total volume of the landslide. Landslide deposits may therefore have self-similar shapes, in which the area covered beyond a certain distance is a constant function of the volume beyond that distance. It is shown that the shape of some well-documented landslide deposits is in reasonable agreement with this prediction. One consequence is that, as recently proposed for debris flows, assessment of hazards related to landslides should be based on the correlation between the volume and the area covered by the deposit, rather than on the apparent coefficient of friction.     

泥石流堆积物粒度分布特征影响因素分析及分形维数预测

泥石流堆积物作为泥石流发育最终的产物,含有大量与泥石流发生过程和发育特征相关的信息,能够反映泥石流灾害程度和活动强度。研究表明,泥石流堆积物颗粒具有明显的自相似性和无标度区间,运用分形理论,计算泥石流堆积物颗粒分布的分维数。分析分维数与主沟长度、泥砂补给段长度比、主沟平均比降、流域最大相对高差和松散物源量的关系,结果表明分维数与各因素之间存在较强的非线性响应关系。以乌东德库区泥石流实测数据为例,以上述的5个因素作为输入单元,建立了泥石流堆积物分维数支持向量机预测模型,并对分维数进行了预测,其预测结果的最大误差为1.25%,说明预测值与实测值吻合度较高。综合表明支持向量机预测模型能够较好地模拟和泛化数据,是一种行之有效的泥石流堆积物分形维数预测方法,可用于不具备筛析条件的泥石流堆积物粒度分布特征的预测与研究,进而可为研究泥石流的形成机理、类型、危险度和堆积物的形成演化特征及物理力学性质提供一个新思路。     

甘肃陇南武都区泥石流易发性评价

文章分析了甘肃陇南市武都区泥石流形成的自然环境背景、发育特征及易发性。通过野外实地考察,查明了泥石流的发育情况,在此基础上,采用模糊物元可拓方法对泥石流的易发性进行了评价。分析表明,研究区的泥石流具有分布密度高、冲沟及坡面泥石流成片发育、北岸泥石流较南岸发育且粘性泥石流所占比例大于南岸的发育特征;选取岩性、沟床比降、山坡坡度、完整系数、发育程度、降水、断层密度7个因子构建泥石流易发性评价指标体系。通过易发性评价,研究区104条泥石流沟中,66条为高易发性,占总数的63.5%;32条为中等易发性,占总数的30.8%;6条为低易发性,占总数的5.7%。     

Experimental Study on the Mobility of Channelized Granular Mass Flow

Granular mass flows (e.g., debris flows/avalanches) in landslide-prone areas are of great concern because they often cause catastrophic disasters as a result of their long run-out distances and large impact forces. To investigate the factors influencing granular mass flow mobility, experimental tests were conducted in a flume model. Granular materials consisting of homogeneous sand and non-homogeneous sandy soil were used for studying particle size effects. Run-out tests with variable flow masses, water contents, and sloping channel confinement parameters were conducted as well. The results indicated that granular mass flow mobility was significantly influenced by the initial water content; a critical water content corresponding to the smallest flow mobility exists for different granular materials. An increase in the total flow mass generally induced a reduction in the travel angle (an increase in flow mobility). Consistent with field observations, the travel angles for different granular materials decreased roughly in proportion to the logarithm of mass. The flume model tests illustrate that the measured travel angles increase as the proportion of fine particles increases. Interestingly, natural terrain possesses critical confinement characteristics for different granular mass flows.     

西藏天摩沟泥石流形成机制与成灾特征

西藏林芝市波密县天摩沟于2007年9月、2010年7月、2010年9月和2018年7月分别发生大型和巨型泥石流,4次泥石流活动均不同程度堵塞主河帕隆藏布,淤埋国道318或摧毁桥梁,堰塞湖淹没村道、溃决造成下游塌岸,给当地居民生命财产尤其是交通干道造成极大危害。文章针对以上4次泥石流活动,采用高分辨率遥感影像,对泥石流发生前的孕灾背景进行解译,同时结合无人机航空摄影和地面调查对天摩沟泥石流形成机制和成灾特征进行了对比分析,得到以下结论:(1)天摩沟内冰川发育,年际变化大,目前泥石流形成的主要方式为岩崩和堵溃,其中2018年和2007年为岩崩引发,2010年为堵溃引发,该沟同时具有冰川泥石流和降雨泥石流的特征。(2)经历了2007年和2010年3次大规模泥石流后,天摩沟内斜坡类物源储量增加了19.6%,绝大部分启动的冰碛物和崩滑物源都转化为泥石流沟道堆积物或冲出沟口。(3)天摩沟2018年泥石流容重为2.10g/cm^3,为黏性泥石流,流速快冲击力强,帕隆藏布河道受到挤压多次变道,历史上最大偏移距离为190m。(4)2018年7月11日泥石流成因为降雨条件下加剧冰川消融引发主沟沟源右侧岩崩,形成多阵次泥石流,主泥石流体积18×104m3,淤埋G318近220m。后续依然具有暴发大型泥石流的可能性,建议进行防治降低其危害程度。     

Self-organization in the rapid flow of granular material: evidence for a major flow mechanism

Based on the assumption that high-speed high-concentration sediment mass flows are primarily granular flows, their dynamic properties were studied. Such highly sheared granular flows are characterized by interparticle collisions. This so-called rapid granular flow regime has been analysed using two-dimensional computer simulations. It is shown that granular flows at the microstructural level are governed by deterministic chaos. The bulk behaviour is characterized by self-organization and an attractor controlling the energy dissipation of the flow. The existence of this rapid granular flow attractor easily explains the linear relation between drop height and travel distance of debris flows. A compelling consequence of the attractor is that rapid granular flow is the major flow regime in debris flows.     

人工阶梯-深潭防治地震区泥石流的探索

阶梯-深潭是山区河流中常见的一种具有高效消能作用的河床结构。2009年采用人工阶梯-深潭系统对文家沟滑坡体上的新生泥石流沟治理进行野外治理实验。在主沟上游段人工构筑33级阶梯-深潭,经历当年几次暴雨,由于通过在深潭内耗散水流的大部分能量,阻止了沟谷下切并有效地控制了泥石流的发生。对野外实验和数值模拟的结果分析表明,在一定的流量下,阶梯-深潭发育的河流系统有助于单位时间内单位重量水流能量耗散率将趋于最小,可以提升河流系统的稳定性。在地震区的泥石流沟内构筑阶梯-深潭系统有利于加速其稳定的进程,并减少灾害的发生。     

Characterization of channel planform features and sinuosity indices in parts of Yamuna River flood plain using remote sensing and GIS techniques

River planform features and sinuosity are widely acknowledged as important geomorphological indices that control the channel hydraulics and stream power which determines the flow velocity and sediment supply to downstream reaches. Despite their significance, there has been little study about these indices in mighty Yamuna River for understanding the topographic control and hydraulic regime. This paper investigates the channel planform features and sinuosity by employing topographic map, digital elevation model (DEM), and satellite imageries to elucidate the morphological, sedimentological, and hydrological characteristics of the channel. Based on sinuosity index (varies between 1.02 and 1.41), the river segments are categorized into straight (segments 1, 3, 4, 5, 6), sinuous (segments 2, 7, 8, 9, and 11), and meandering (segment 10). The parameters analyzed to find out the influencing factors on sinuosity indicate geomorphological and anthropologic control in their development. Tectonic control of sinuosity in the studied stretch is ruled out as it is flowing through an alluvial plain with low rate of discharge.