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.     

An empirical model for the development and equilibrium morphology of current ripples in fine sand

A flume study on the development and equilibrium morphology of current ripples in fine sand (D₅₀ = 0·238 mm) was performed to extend an empirical model for current ripple stability in 0·095 mm sand to larger grain sizes. The results of the flume experiments agree with the very fine sand model that current ripple development from a flat bed is largely independent of flow velocity. At all flow velocities, ripples evolve from incipient, through straight, sinuous and non-equilibrium linguoid, to equilibrium linguoid plan morphology. The time needed to achieve an equilibrium linguoid plan form is related to an inverse power of flow velocity and ranges from several minutes to more than hundreds of hours. Average equilibrium height and length are 17·0 mm and 141·1 mm respectively. These values are about 20% larger than in very fine sand. Equilibrium ripple height and length are proportional to flow velocity near the stability field of dunes. In the same velocity range, a characteristic grouping of ripples with smaller ripples migrating on the upstream face of larger ripples was observed. Bed-form development shows a conspicuous two-phase behaviour at flow velocities < 0·49 m s^?1. In the first phase of development, ripple height and length increase along an exponential path, similar to that at higher flow velocities, thus reaching intermediate equilibrium values of 14·8 mm and 124·5 mm respectively. After some time, however, a second phase commences, that involves a rapid increase in bed-form size to the typical equilibrium values for 0·238 mm sand. A comparison with literature data shows that the results obtained for 0·238 mm sand agree reasonably well with other flume studies at similar grain size. Yet considerable variability in the relationships between ripple dimensions and flow strength ensues from, among others, underestimation of equilibrium time, shallow flow depths and differences in sediment texture.     

A flume study on the development and equilibrium morphology of current ripples in very fine sand

An empirical model is constructed for the development and equilibrium dimensions of small scale, unidirectional bedforms in sand with a median grain size of 0·095 mm, based on a series of steady flow experiments in a flume. Current ripples always attain a linguoid plan morphology with constant average height (13·1 mm) and wavelength (115·7 mm), provided that sufficient time is allowed for their formation. The development pattern of these ripples on a flat bed is independent of flow velocity, and involves four stages: (1) incipient ripples; (2) straight and sinuous ripples; (3) non-equilibrium linguoid ripples, and (4) equilibrium linguoid ripples. Straight and sinuous ripples are non-equilibrium bedforms at all flow velocities. The time needed to reach equilibrium dimensions is related to the inverse power of flow velocity and ranges from several minutes to more than hundreds of hours. At flow velocities where washed ripples are stable, the equilibrium wavelength is similar to that of equilibrium linguoid ripples, but the equilibrium height rapidly decreases from 13·1 mm to zero towards upper stage plane bed conditions. The results of the flume experiments correspond reasonably well with those of previous studies, provided that various complicating factors, such as different experimental methods, different sediment characteristics, shallow flow depths and non-equilibrium runs, are accounted for.     

The morphology and dynamics of low amplitude bedwaves upon upper stage plane beds and the preservation of planar laminae

Experimental studies of subcritical, unidirectional flow over upper stage plane beds of medium grained sand reveal the ubiquitous presence of low amplitude bedwaves. Flow depth was 0·11 m, mean flow velocities were 0·86–1·0 m s^?1, shear velocities were 0·058–0·71 m s^?1 and dimensionless shear stresses were 0·56–0·87. Bedwaves are asymmetrical in profile and range from 0·75 to 11 mm in height (mainly 2–6 mm), from 0·7 to 1·3 m in wavelength and have mean celerities of 10 mm s^?1. Flow records suggest that the bedwaves are associated with accelerating flow over the bedwave crests and flow which decelerates and diverges laterally over the troughs. High resolution bed profiling during aggradation of the bed combined with subsequent box coring illustrates that these bedwaves are responsible for the planar laminae characteristic of upper stage plane beds. Lamina preservation is dependent upon the mean aggradation rate and the sequence of bedwaves of different height crossing any point; individual laminae are more readily preserved at higher aggradation rates where the possibility of reworking by later bedwaves is reduced. Laminae are recognized by small changes in grain size and commonly a fining upwards at the top of laminae which is generated by fine grained material infiltrating a lower lamina in the leeside of a bedwave.     

Wave-induced nearshore circulation along the Calangute-Candolim beach,Goa, west coast of India

The wave-induced nearshore circulation model suggested by Noda has been modified and applied for three small segments along the coast of Goa. The present model incorporates the prevailing bottom topography and considers its variation along with the radiation stress as the driving force for the circulation. We find that the flow pattern is strongly dependent on bottom topography. While normal incidence of waves results in a cellular pattern of flow, meandering flows prevail for oblique incidence along the coast. The shoreward flows are always located over shoals while the rip currents prevail over channels. The onshore/offshore flows show magnitudes as high as 3·1 m/s, while those alongshore reach a maximum of 1·1 m/s. When compared with field observations these values are slightly higher.     

Discriminating between pore‐filling load and bed‐structure load: a new porosity‐based method,exemplified for the river Rhine

Sediments contained in the river bed do not necessarily contribute to morphological change. The finest part of the sediment mixture often fills the pores between the larger grains and can be removed without causing a drop in bed level. The discrimination between pore‐filling load and bed‐structure load, therefore, is of practical importance for morphological predictions. In this study, a new method is proposed to estimate the cut‐off grain size that forms the boundary between pore‐filling load and bed‐structure load. The method evaluates the pore structure of the river bed geometrically. Only detailed grain‐size distributions of the river bed are required as input to the method. A preliminary validation shows that the calculated porosity and cut‐off size values agree well with experimental data. Application of the new cut‐off size method to the river Rhine demonstrates that the estimated cut‐off size decreases in a downstream direction from about 2 to 0·05 mm, covariant with the downstream fining of bed sediments. Grain size fractions that are pore‐filling load in the upstream part of the river thus gradually become bed‐structure load in the downstream part. The estimated (mass) percentage of pore‐filling load in the river bed ranges from 0% in areas with a unimodal river bed, to about 22% in reaches with a bimodal sand‐gravel bed. The estimated bed porosity varies between 0·15 and 0·35, which is considerably less than the often‐used standard value of 0·40. The predicted cut‐off size between pore‐filling load and bed‐structure load (D_c,p) is fundamentally different from the cut‐off size between wash‐load and bed‐material load (D_c,w), irrespective of the method used to determine D_c,p or D_c,w. D_c,w values are in the order of 10^?1 mm and mainly dependent on the flow characteristics, whereas D_c,p values are generally much larger (about 10⁰ mm in gravel‐bed rivers) and dependent on the bed composition. Knowledge of D_c,w is important for the prediction of the total sediment transport in a river (including suspended fines that do not interact with the bed), whereas knowledge of D_c,p helps to improve morphological predictions, especially if spatial variations in D_c,p are taken into account. An alternative to using a spatially variable value of D_c,p in morphological models is to use a spatially variable bed porosity, which can also be predicted with the new method. In addition to the morphological benefits, the new method also has sedimentological applications. The possibility to determine quickly whether a sediment mixture is clast‐supported or matrix‐supported may help to better understand downstream fining trends, sediment entrainment thresholds and variations in hydraulic conductivity.     

The stability of sublittoral, fine-grained sediments in a subarctic estuary

The erodibility of natural estuarine sediments was measured in sit along a longitudinal transect of Manitounuk Sound, Hudson Bay, using the benthic flume Sea Carousel. Sedimentation processes along the transect varied from continuous, rapid, post-glacial sedimentation in the inner Sound, to glacial outcrops and seabed reworking of the outer Sound. The grain size and physical bulk properties reflect changes in depositional environment and correlate with sediment erosion threshold stress (τ_c), erosion rate (E), erosion type and still-water mass settling rate. There was a steady increase in τ_c (0·8–2·0 Pa) with distance down the Sound in parallel with the decreasing sedimentation rate (0·003–0·001 m yr^?1) and increasing sediment bulk density (1650–2010 kg m^?3). The near-surface friction coefficient varied up to 68° in proportion to the clay content of post-glacial material. Glacial sediments were characterized by variable results and generally higher friction coefficients. Seabed erosion in Sea Carousel began with surface creep of loose aggregates, pellets and organic debris. This was followed by Type I bed erosion at rates that varied between 0·0002 and 0·0032 kg m^?2 s^?1 (mean 0·0015). Type I peak erosion rate was inversely related to applied bed shear stress (τ_o). Type II erosion succeeded Type I, often after a broad transitional period. Simulations of suspended sediment concentration in Sea Carousel were made using four commonly used erosion (E) algorithms. The best results were obtained using Krone's dimensionless ratio relationship: E=M(τ_o/τ_c-1). Simulations were highly sensitive to the definition of erosion threshold with sediment depth [τ_c(z)]. Small errors in definition of τ_c(z) caused large errors in the prediction of suspended sediment concentration which far exceeded differences between the methods tested.     

Sand grain threshold, in relation to bed 'stress history': an experimental study

Besides particle size, density and shape, the erodibility of a sediment bed depends also upon the exposure to prethreshold velocities in the overlying flow. Such flow effectively rearranges the grains (at and below the bed surface), causing them to become more resistant to subsequent erosion. The effects of the ‘stress history’, leading up to the critical condition for sediment movement, are investigated for unidirectional flows generated in a recirculating laboratory flume. The sediment beds investigated consisted of cohesionless quartz sand grains, with mean grain diameters of 0·194 mm (fine sand), 0·387 mm (medium sand) and 0·774 mm (coarse sand), with narrow particle-size distributions. The critical (threshold) shear velocity (target value) for the three beds was established, within 2·5 min of increasing the flow from zero velocity. The subsequent experiments were performed under prethreshold velocities at 70% (for 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 min exposure duration), 80% (for 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 min exposure duration), 90 and 95% (for 5, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 120 min exposure duration) of the target value. Following exposure to these different prethreshold conditions, the flow was increased then to reach actual critical conditions, within a period of 2·5 min. The critical condition for the initiation of sediment movement was established using visual observation (supplemented by video recordings), according to the Yalin criterion. The results show that if the exposure duration to prethreshold velocities remains constant, then the critical shear velocity increases with increasing prethreshold velocity. Likewise, if the prethreshold velocity remains constant, then the critical shear velocity increases with increasing exposure duration. In some circumstances, the critical shear velocity was found to increase by as much as 27%. An empirical formula is proposed to account for the exposure correction to be applied to the critical shear velocities of sand-sized sediment beds; this is prior to their inclusion into bedload transport formulae, for an improved prediction of the magnitude and nature of transport.     

Particle size characteristics of aeolian ripple crests and troughs

Ripples are prevalent in aeolian landscapes. Many researchers have focused on the shape and formation of sand ripples, but few have studied the differences in the particle size of sand on crests and in troughs along bed, especially the variations caused by changes in friction velocity and the wind‐blowing duration. A particle size of 158 μm (d ) was used to create aeolian ripples in a wind tunnel under four friction velocities (u *) with different wind duration times (t ). Samples were collected from the surfaces of ripple crests and troughs, respectively, at seven sites, and particle sizes were measured using a Malvern Mastersizer 2000. The main results were: (i) The particle size distributions of sand in troughs are unimodal with slight variations of particle size parameters, including mean particle size, standard deviation, skewness and kurtosis, etc., under different conditions, while these particle size parameters of sand on crests change with friction velocity and deflation time. Moreover, some of the particle distribution curves for the sand on crests do not follow typical unimodal curves. (ii) With increasing friction velocity or deflation duration, the sand on the crests shows a coarsening process relative to those on the bed surface. The particle size of sand on crests at a 1 m bed increases linearly with friction velocity (d  =  344·27 + 34·54 u *) at a given wind‐blowing duration. The particle sizes of sand on crests at 1 m, 2 m and 4 m beds increase with a power‐law relationship (d  = a + t ^b, where a and b are fitting parameters) with deflation time at a given friction velocity. (iii) The probability cumulative curves of sand showed a three‐section pattern in troughs and on most of the crests but a four‐section pattern at crest locations due to increased influence by friction velocity and deflation time. The proportions of the sediment moved by suspension, saltation and creep in the three‐section pattern were within the ranges of 0·2% to 2·0%, 97·0% to 98·9%, and 0·8% to 3·0%, respectively. For the four‐section pattern, suspension accounted for 0·3% and 3·0%, and the proportion of creep increased with friction velocity and deflation time, while saltation decreased accordingly. Although these results require additional validation, they help to advance current understanding of the grain‐size characteristics of aeolian ripples.     

Grain-size sorting within river bars in relation to downstream fining along a wandering channel

The textural variability of river bed gravels at bar scales is poorly understood, as are the relations between variability at this scale and at reach and river scales. Surface and subsurface grain‐size distributions were therefore examined at reach, bar and bedform scales along lower Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada. Grain‐size variations within compound bars are conditioned by longitudinal position, elevation and morphological setting. Surface and subsurface sediments tend to decrease in median size from bar head to bar tail by 33% and 17%, respectively. Sediment size is constrained at some upper limit that is inversely related to bar surface elevation and which is consistent with competence considerations. The surface sediments on unit bars are finer and better sorted than the bed materials in bar‐top channels and along the main bar edges. Secondary unit bars tend to have a lower sand content than other features, a consequence of sediment resorting. Individual unit bars and gravel sheets exhibit streamwise grain‐size fining and lee‐side sand deposition. Over time, significant amounts of cut and fill do not ipso facto cause changes in surface grain sizes; yet, sediment characteristics can change without any significant morphological adjustment taking place. At the reach scale there is a clear downstream fining trend, but local variability is consistently high due to within‐bar variations. The surface median grain‐size range on individual bars is, on average, 25% of that along the entire 50 km reach but is 68% on one bar. While the overall fining trend yields a downstream change in surface median size of 0·76 mm km^?1, the average value for ‘head‐to‐tail’ size reduction on individual bars is 6·3 mm km^?1, an order of magnitude difference that highlights the effectiveness of bar‐scale sorting processes in gravel‐bed rivers. Possibilities for modelling bar‐scale variability and the interaction of the different controls that are identified are discussed.     

On the transition between 2D and 3D dunes

Sediment transport in sand-bedded alluvial channels is strongly conditioned by bedforms, the planimetric morphology of which can be either two- or three-dimensional. Experiments were undertaken to examine the processes that transform the bed configuration from two-dimensional (2D) dunes to three-dimensional (3D) dunes. A narrowly graded, 500 μm size sand was subjected to a 0·15 m deep, non-varying mean flow ranging from 0·30 to 0·55 m sec⁻¹ in a 1 m wide flume. Changes in the planimetric configuration of the bed were monitored using a high-resolution video camera that produced a series of 10 sec time-lapsed digital images. Image analysis was used to define a critical value of the non-dimensional span (sinuosity) of the bedform crestlines that divides 2D forms from 3D forms. Significant variation in the non-dimensional span is observed that cannot be linked to properties of the flow or bedforms and thus appears random. Images also reveal that, once 2D bedforms are established, minor, transient excesses or deficiencies of sand are passed from one bedform to another. The bedform field appears capable of absorbing a small number of such defects but, as the number grows with time, the resulting morphological perturbations produce a transition in bed state to 3D forms that continue to evolve, but are pattern-stable. The 3D pattern is maintained by the constant rearrangement of crestlines through lobe extension and starving downstream bedforms of sediment, which leads to bifurcation. The experiments demonstrate that 2D bedforms are not stable in this calibre sand and call into question the reliability of bedform phase diagrams that use crestline shape as a discriminator.     

Modelling of vibratory pile driving in sand

A model for vibro-driving of rigid piles in sand is proposed incorporating the interaction of the vibrator–pile–soil system. The vibro-driver force and the non-linear soil resistance (dynamic f–w and q–w relationships) have been quantified in terms of in situ stress, relative density and particle size. The influence of relative density (0·65 and 0·90), particle size (effective grain size of 0·2 mm and 1·2 mm) and in situ stress (up to 20 psi) on the vibro-driving of a closed-ended pipe pile was investigated experimentally using a large-scale laboratory testing system. The vibro-driving model predicted the observed driving history reasonably well. A computer program (UHVIBRO) has been developed to analyse vibratory pile driving using the dynamic soil resistance relationships developed along with correlation factors from the systematic laboratory study.     

Downstream grain‐size changes associated with a transition from single channel to anabranching

Downstream variation in grain size associated with changes in river pattern is a topic that interests multiple disciplines. How grain size varies between adjacent reaches with strongly contrasting river pattern is an outstanding question. This study presents a combined field and numerical modelling investigation of a river with a downstream planform change from single channel to anabranching, where the planform is controlled by a change in underlying lithology. This approach enabled exploration of the controls on sedimentology in a river for which there is very limited opportunity to collect flow and sediment transport data. This study shows that the surficial grain size decreases as a result of the downstream change in planform. This is because of a decrease in flow velocity and shear stress associated with a decrease in channel depth related to the planform change. Channel geometries in both the field and modelling data fit into distinct groups based on channel depth, the deepest being the single channel reach and the shallowest being the anabranching. This downstream reduction in channel dimension (depth) is caused because the total discharge is split from one channel into multiple channels. The coarsest grain sizes (cobble) are deposited at the terminus of the single channel and in the distributary channels; anabranching channels contain sand‐size sediments. This study shows that, in a transition from single channel to anabranching, the channel dimensions decrease as the number of channels increases, resulting in a decrease in bed shear stress and the fining of bed material downstream.     

Palaeohydraulics of a tabular,cross-stratified sand in the Brampton Esker,Ontario

Several hydraulic techniques were used to estimate the flow depth (0.3 m) associated with the deposition of a tabular set (micro-delta) of cross-stratified sand in the Brampton esker. The competency of the flow, deduced from both the grain size and structural characteristics of the set, gave a value of approximately 0.65 m/sec for the palaeo-velocity of the flow. Estimates of palaeo-depth and velocity facilitated calculation of the Froude and Reynolds numbers, about 0.38 and 1.24 · 10⁵, respectively. Extrapolation of other parameters included bed shear stress τ₀ (4.50 N/m²), shear velocity U_* (0.067 m/sec), dimensionless Chezy coefficient C/√g (9.7), slope of the energy gradient S(0.00153), Darcy-Weisbach friction factor f(0.085), Manning roughness coefficient n(0.027) and discharge of bed-material load (19 metric tons/day/m). The figures cited are reasonable estimates only. The occurrence of regressive ripples in the bottomset of the micro-delta aided in the hydraulic interpretation. These flow characteristics are only representative of the final stages of deposition at one location on the flank of the esker. The core of the esker was probably deposited under different hydraulic conditions.     

The variability of critical shear stress, friction angle, and grain protrusion in water-worked sediments

The erodibility of a grain on a rough bed is controlled by, among other factors, its relative projection above the mean bed, its exposure relative to upstream grains, and its friction angle. Here we report direct measurements of friction angles, grain projection and exposure, and small-scale topographic structure on a variety of water-worked mixed-grain sediment surfaces. Using a simple analytical model of the force balance on individual grains, we calculate the distribution of critical shear stress for idealized spherical grains on the measured bed topography. The friction angle, projection, and exposure of single grain sizes vary widely from point to point within a given bed surface; the variability within a single surface often exceeds the difference between the mean values of disparate surfaces. As a result, the critical shear stress for a given grain size on a sediment surface is characterized by a probability distribution, rather than a single value. On a given bed, the crtitical shear stress distributions of different grain sizes have similar lower bounds, but above their lower tails they diverge rapidly, with smaller grains having substantially higher median critical shear stresses. Large numbers of fines, trapp.ed within pockets on the bed or shielded by upstream grains, are effectively lost to the flow. Our calculations suggest that critical shear stress, as conventionally measured, is defined by the most erodible grains, entrained during transient shear stress excursions associated with the turbulent flow; this implies a physical basis for the indeterminacy of initial motion. These observations suggest that transport rate/shear stress relationships may be controlled, in part, by the increasing numbers of grains that become available for entrainment as mean shear stress increases. They also suggest that bed textures and grain size distributions may be controlled, within the constraints of an imposed shear stress and sediment supply regime, by the influence of each size fraction on the erodibility of other grain sizes present on the bed.     

Grain size, composition, porosity and permeability contrasts within cross-bedded sandstones in Tertiary fluvial deposits, central Spain

Permeability measured with a portable probe permeameter on outcrops of cross-bedded sandstones ranges between 0·9 and 19 D. The highest permeability (2–19 D with an average of 8·5 D) occurs in the coarsest grained foreset laminae (CFL), intermediate values (2–12 D with an average of 5·3 D) occur in finer grained foreset laminae (FFL) and the lowest values (0·9–10 D with an average of 4·8 D) occur in bottomset layers (BL). In the cross-beds the average grain size ranges from medium grained sand in the CFL to fine grained sand in the FFL and BL. In all three subfacies, the average size of the primary pores is approximately 1φ unit smaller than the average grain size. The abundance of unstable carbonate clasts correlates with increasing average grain size, micritic clasts being most abundant in the CFL. Conversely, quartz content increases with decreasing grain size and is highest in the FFL and BL. Diagenetic destruction of primary porosity by compaction and cementation, as well as generation of secondary porosity through dissolution, were controlled by the original mineralogical composition of the sand. Contrasts in grain size determine the primary pore size contrasts and differences in composition between CFL, FFL and BL. Permeability contrasts reflect variations in average primary pore size rather than differences in total porosity. Probe permeability contrasts between CFL, FFL and BL depend on contrasts in average pore size and contrasts in mineralogical composition between the subfacies.     

Current‐aligned dewatering sheets and ‘enhanced’ primary current lineation in turbidite sandstones of the Marnoso‐arenacea Formation

Turbidite sandstones of the Miocene Marnoso‐arenacea Formation (northern Apennines, Italy) display centimetre to decimetre long, straight to gently curved, 0·5 to 2·0 cm regularly spaced lineations on depositional (stratification) planes. Sometimes these lineations are the planform expression of sheet structures seen as millimetre to centimetre long vertical ‘pillars’ in profile. Both occur in the middle and upper parts of medium‐grained and fine‐grained sandstone beds composed of crude to well‐defined stratified facies (including corrugated, hummocky‐like, convolute, dish‐structured and dune stratification) and are aligned sub‐parallel to palaeoflow direction as determined from sole marks often in the same beds. Outcrops lack a tectonic‐related fabric and therefore these structures may be confidently interpreted to be sedimentary in origin. Lineations resemble primary current lineations formed by the action of turbulence during bedload transport under upper stage plane bed conditions. However, they typically display a larger spacing and micro‐topography compared to classic primary current lineations and are not associated with planar‐parallel, finely laminated sandstones. This type of ‘enhanced lineation’ is interpreted to develop by the same process as primary current lineations, but under relatively high near‐bed sediment concentrations and suspended load fallout rates, as supported by laboratory experiments and host facies characteristics. Sheets are interpreted to be dewatering structures and their alignment to palaeoflow (only noted in several other outcrops previously) inferred to be a function of vertical water‐escape following the primary depositional grain fabric. For the Marnoso‐arenacea beds, sheet orientation may be linked genetically to the enhanced primary current lineation structures. Current‐aligned lineation and sheet structures can be used as palaeoflow indicators, although the directional significance of sheets needs to be independently confirmed. These indicators also aid the interpretation of dewatered sandstones, suggesting sedimentation under a traction‐dominated depositional flow – with a discrete interface between the aggrading deposit and the flow – as opposed to under higher concentration grain or hindered‐settling dominated regimes.     

A recent turbidity current event, Hueneme Fan, California: reconstruction of flow properties

A recent (100 yr old) turbidite is described from Hueneme Fan, California Continental Borderland. Dense sampling over the fan surface has allowed excellent delineation of the characteristics of this deposit. It exhibits Bouna DE sequences and has a distinctly bimodal, sandy silt grain size distribution. Through the use of generalized fluid dynamics equations, it is possible to reconstruct original flow properties of the current which deposited this material. The calculated velocities ranged from 10–90 cm s^-1 and excess density (above ambient seawater) from 0·001–0·005 g cm^-3 in the lower midfan and upper fan channel regions, respectively. Height of the current ranged from 5–15 m, on slopes from 1·5 to 0·15°. A total of 10⁷ m³ of sediment was deposited during 10 days. The turbidity current is conjectured to have originated from direct river input during the floods of 1884. An older event is also described, which has distinctly different properties and origins. The grain sizes of this older deposit are much coarser, and sedimentary structures suggest higher flow regimes. This turbidite is conjectured to have been deposited from a higher density, faster current thought to have been generated by slumping. The need for a better understanding of the controls on the characteristics of turbidity currents and their effect on fan morphology is emphasized.     

The formation of dunes,antidunes, and rapidly damping waves in alluvial channels

Under the effect of a constant current for a long time, a water channel of infinitely long and constant depth interacting with a uniform sandbed of infinite thickness is used to simulate the formation of dunes, antidunes and rapidly damping waves in alluvial channels. The theory of potential flow is applied to the channel flow, while Biot's theory of poroelasticity is adopted to deal with erodible bed material. The governing equations, together with free surface, bed surface, and far field boundary conditions, form a complete boundary‐value problem without applying empirical sediment discharge formulas as in conventional researches. The comparison of the present result with Kennedy's (Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1963; 16 : 521–544) instability analysis not only indicates the appropriateness of the present work, but also reveals the advantage of the present study due to its ability to find all kinds of bed forms (including the rapidly damping waves that Kennedy could not find) and of solving for the unclear lagged distance δ introduced in Kennedy's work. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Grain‐size distributions on high‐energy sandy beaches and their relation to wave dissipation

Grain size and sorting represent two key parameters when characterizing sediments or modelling beach morphology and sediment transport. Traditionally, an average value for grain size or sorting is often assumed for the entire area, determined from only a few sediment samples, ignoring any spatial (or temporal) variability in sediment characteristics. This contribution uses a data set of physical surface sediment samples from 53 beach locations around the south‐west peninsula of the United Kingdom, in addition to bi‐monthly, high spatial resolution (mean 240 samples) digital grain‐size surveys from a high‐energy, oceanic, sandy beach (Perranporth, North Cornwall). Systematic spatial variations in grain size and sorting were consistently observed in the seaward direction across the intertidal zone of sandy beaches, with grain‐sizes coarsening and sorting improving by up to 51·7% and 64·3%, respectively. This variability was deterministically related to the time‐averaged, antecedent‐adjusted energy dissipated by breaking waves, with the observed maximum grain‐size and sorting values correlating with the location of peak wave energy dissipation (r² = 0·998, P < 0·01).