Field study on flow structures within aquatic vegetation under combined currents and small-scale waves

Field measurements were conducted to study the influence of aquatic vegetation on flow structures in floodplains under combined currents and wind-driven waves. Wave and turbulent velocities were decomposed from the time series of instantaneous velocity and analysed separately. In the present study, the wind waves were small, leading to the ratios of wave excursion (E_w) to stem spacing (S) for all cases tested here were less than 0.5. This caused the vertical distributions of time-averaged velocity (U_horiz) and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) impacted by vegetation similar with the vegetated flow structures under pure current conditions. For emergent vegetation, U_horiz and TKE distributed uniformly through the entire water column or increased slightly from bed to water surface. Similar distributions were present in the lower part of submerged vegetation. In the upper part of submerged vegetation, U_horiz and TKE increased rapidly toward water surface and TKE reached its maximum near the top of vegetation. The measured wave orbital velocity (U_w) fitted linear wave theory well through the entire water depth for both the emergent and submerged cases, so that with small E_w/S the wave velocity was not attenuated within vegetation and U_w within canopy can be predicted by the linear wave theory under combined currents and waves. However, wind-driven waves made the turbulence generated near the top of canopy penetrate a deeper depth into vegetation than predictions under pure current conditions.     

Determining drag coefficients and their application in modelling of turbulent flow with submerged vegetation

Vegetation is a key aspect of water resources and ecology in natural rivers, floodplains and irrigation channels. The hydraulic resistance of the water flow is greatly changed when submerged vegetation is present. Three kinds of drag coefficients, i.e., the drag coefficient for an isolated cylinder, the bulk drag coefficient of an array of cylinders and the vertically distributed or local drag coefficient, have been commonly used as parameters to represent the vegetation drag force. In this paper, a comprehensive experimental study of submerged stems in an open channel flow is presented. Empirical formulae for the three drag coefficients were obtained based on our experimental results and on data from previous studies. A two-layer model was developed to solve the mean momentum equation, which was used to evaluate the vertical mean velocity profile with each of the drag coefficients. By comparing the velocity distribution model predictions and the measurement results, we found that the model with the drag coefficient for an isolated cylinder and the local drag coefficient was good fit. In addition, the model with the bulk drag coefficient gave much larger velocity values than measurements, but it could be improved by adding the bed friction effect and making choice of the depth-averaged velocity within the canopy layer.     

Modeling depth-averaged velocity and bed shear stress in compound channels with emergent and submerged vegetation

This paper presents an approach to modeling the depth-averaged velocity and bed shear stress in compound channels with emergent and submerged vegetation. The depth-averaged equation of vegetated compound channel flow is given by considering the drag force and the blockage effect of vegetation, based on the Shiono and Knight method (1991) [40]. The analytical solution to the transverse variation of depth-averaged velocity is presented, including the effects of bed friction, lateral momentum transfer, secondary flows and drag force due to vegetation. The model is then applied to compound channels with completely vegetated floodplains and with one-line vegetation along the floodplain edge. The modeled results agree well with the available experimental data, indicating that the proposed model is capable of accurately predicting the lateral distributions of depth-averaged velocity and bed shear stress in vegetated compound channels with secondary flows. The secondary flow parameter and dimensionless eddy viscosity are also discussed and analyzed. The study shows that the sign of the secondary flow parameter is determined by the rotational direction of secondary current cells and its value is dependent on the flow depth. In the application of the model, ignoring the secondary flow leads to a large computational error, especially in the non-vegetated main channel.     

Velocity and turbulence variations at the edge of saltmarshes

Saltmarsh vegetation significantly influences tidal currents and sediment deposition by decelerating the water velocity in the canopy. In order to complement previous field results, detailed profiles of velocity and turbulence were measured in a laboratory flume. Natural Spartina anglica plants were installed in a 3 m length test section in a straight, recirculating flume. Different vegetation densities, water depths and surface velocities were investigated. The logarithmic velocity profile, which existed in front of the vegetation, was altered gradually to a skimming-flow profile, typical for submerged saltmarsh vegetation. The flow reduction in the denser part of the canopy also induced an upward flow (the current was partially deflected by the canopy). The skimming flow was accompanied by a zone of high turbulence co-located with the strongest velocity gradient. This gradient moved upward and the turbulence increased with distance from the edge of the vegetation. Below the skimming flow, the velocity and the turbulence were low. The structure of the flow in the canopy was relatively stable 2 m into the vegetation. The roughness length (z₀) of the vegetation depends only on the vegetation characteristics, and is not sensitive to the current velocity or the water depth. Both the reduced turbulence in the dense canopy and the high turbulence at the top of the canopy should increase sediment deposition. On the other hand, the high turbulence zone just beyond the vegetation edge and the oblique upward flow may produce reduced sedimentation; a phenomenon that was observed near the vegetation edge in the field.     

Effects of vegetation on flow conveyance and sediment transport capacity

In-stream and riparian vegetation may significantly affect flow and sediment transport in vegetated channels. A hydraulic model has been developed in this paper to compute the flow discharge in channels with rigid and flexible vegetation under emergent and submerged conditions. An empirical formula has also been presented to determine the bed-load discharge in vegetated channels. The model has been tested against experimental and field data available in the literature. The computed flow discharge and bed-load transport rate agree well with the measured data.     

Flow analysis in a channel with flexible vegetation using double-averaging method

The paper addresses the problem of the resistance due to vegetation in an open channel flow, characterized by partially and fully submerged vegetation formed by colonies of bushes. The flow is characterized by significant spatial variations of velocity between vertical profiles that make the traditional approach based on time averaging of turbulent fluctuations inconvenient. A more useful procedure, based on time and spatial averaging (Double-Averaging Method) is applied for the flow field analysis and characterization. The vertical distribution of mean velocity and turbulent stresses at different spatial locations has been measured with a 3D Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV) for two different vegetation densities where fully submerged real bushes (salix pentandra) have been used. Velocity measurements were completed together with the measurements of drag exerted on the flow by bushes at different flow depths. The analysis of velocity measurements allows depicting the fundamental characteristics of both the mean flow field and turbulence. The experimental data show that the contribution of form-induced stresses to the momentum balance cannot be neglected. The mean velocity profiles and the spatially averaged turbulent intensity profiles allow inferring that the vegetation density is a driving parameter for the development of a mixing layer at the canopy top in the case of submerged vegetation. Moreover, the net upward turbulent momentum flux, evaluated with the methodology proposed by Lu and Willmarth (1973), appears to be damped for increased vegetation density; this finding can rationally explain the reduction of the suspended sediment transport capacity typically observed in free surface flows over a vegetated bed.     

Flow and transport in channels with submerged vegetation

This paper reviews recent work on flow and transport in channels with submerged vegetation, including discussions of turbulence structure, mean velocity profiles, and dispersion. For submerged canopies of sufficient density, the dominant characteristic of the flow is the generation of a shear-layer at the top of the canopy. The shear-layer generates coherent vortices by Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) instability. These vortices control the vertical exchange of mass and momentum, influencing both the mean velocity profile, as well as the turbulent diffusivity. For flexible canopies, the passage of the KH vortices generates a progressive wave along the canopy interface, termed monami. The KH vortices formed at the top of the canopy penetrate a distance δ _e into the canopy. This penetration scale segregates the canopy into an upper layer of rapid transport and a lower layer of slow transport. Flushing of the upper canopy is enhanced by the energetic shear-scale vortices. In the lower layer turbulence is limited to length-scales set by the stem geometry, and the resulting transport is significantly slower than that of the upper layer.     

Investigation of turbulence characteristics in channel with dense vegetation

In this experimental study,the turbulent flow in a channel with vegetation by using sprouts of wheat on channel bed was investigated.Two different aspect ratios of channel were used.An Acoustic Doppler Velocimetry was used to measure parameters of turbulent flow over submerged sprouts of wheat,such as velocity profiles.The log law and the Reynolds shear stress distribution were applied. Results indicate that the position of the maximum turbulence intensity superposes on the inflection point situated over the top of submerged vegetation cover.Quadrant analysis shows that near the vegetation bed,the sweeps and ejections appear to be the most dominant phenomenon,while far from the vegetated bed,the outward is dominant event.Results also show that the aspect ratio plays an important role on the contribution of the different bursting events for Reynolds stress determination.     

Effects of vegetation on flow and sediment transport: comparative analyses and validation of predicting models

The presence of vegetation modifies flow and sediment transport in alluvial channels and hence the morphological evolution of river systems. Plants increase the local roughness, modify flow patterns and provide additional drag, decreasing the bed‐shear stress and enhancing local sediment deposition. For this, it is important to take into account the presence of vegetation in morphodynamic modelling. Models describing the effects of vegetation on water flow and sediment transport already exist, but comparative analyses and validations on extensive datasets are still lacking. In order to provide practical information for modelling purposes, we analysed the performance of a large number of models on flow resistance, vegetation drag, vertical velocity profiles and bed‐shear stresses in vegetated channels. Their assessments and applicability ranges are derived by comparing their predictions with measured values from a large dataset for different types of submerged and emergent vegetation gathered from the literature. The work includes assessing the performance of the sediment transport capacity formulae of Engelund and Hansen and van Rijn in the case of vegetated beds, as well as the value of the drag coefficient to be used for different types of vegetation and hydraulic conditions. The results provide a unique comparative overview of existing models for the assessment of the effects of vegetation on morphodynamics, highlighting their performances and applicability ranges. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A 3-D phase-averaged model for shallow-water flow with waves in vegetated water

A 3-D shallow-water flow model has been developed to simulate the flow in coastal vegetated waters with short waves. The model adopts the 3-D phase-averaged shallow-water flow equations with radiation stresses induced by short waves. It solves the governing equations using an implicit finite volume method based on quadtree rectangular mesh in the horizontal plane and stretching mesh in the vertical direction. The flow model is coupled with a spectral wave deformation model called CMS-Wave. The wave model solves the spectral wave-action balance equation and provides wave characteristics to the flow model. The model considers the effects of vegetation on currents and waves by including the drag and inertia forces of vegetation in the momentum equations and the wave energy loss due to vegetation resistance in the wave-action balance equation. The model has been tested using several sets of laboratory experiments, including steady flows in a straight channel with submerged vegetation and in a compound channel with vegetated floodplain and random waves through a vegetated channel and on a vegetated beach slope. The calculated water levels, current velocities, and wave heights are in general good agreement with the measured data.     

Bio‐geomorphic effects on tidal channel evolution: impact of vegetation establishment and tidal prism change

The long‐term (10–100 years) evolution of tidal channels is generally considered to interact with the bio‐geomorphic evolution of the surrounding intertidal platform. Here we studied how the geometric properties of tidal channels (channel drainage density and channel width) change as (1) vegetation establishes on an initially bare intertidal platform and (2) sediment accretion on the intertidal platform leads to a reduction in the tidal prism (i.e. water volume that during a tidal cycle floods to and drains back from the intertidal platform). Based on a time series of aerial photographs and digital elevation models, we derived the channel geometric properties at different time steps during the evolution from an initially low‐elevated bare tidal flat towards a high‐elevated vegetated marsh. We found that vegetation establishment causes a marked increase in channel drainage density. This is explained as the friction exerted by patches of pioneer vegetation concentrates the flow in between the vegetation patches and promotes there the erosion of channels. Once vegetation has established, continued sediment accretion and tidal prism reduction do not result in significant further changes in channel drainage density and in channel widths. We hypothesize that this is explained by a partitioning of the tidal flow between concentrated channel flow, as long as the vegetation is not submerged, and more homogeneous sheet flow as the vegetation is deeply submerged. Hence, a reduction of the tidal prism due to sediment accretion on the intertidal platform, reduces especially the volume of sheet flow (which does not affect channel geometry), while the concentrated channel flow (i.e. the landscape forming volume of water) is not much affected by the tidal prism reduction. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

乌梁素海沉水植物群落光谱特征及冠层水深影响分析

沉水植物对于改善富营养化水体和重建水生生态系统起着至关重要的作用.应用遥感技术可以实时、大面积监测沉水植物的分布和生长情况,而冠层水深直接影响沉水植物在湖泊、河流中的准确遥感解译.本研究基于实测光谱数据,分析了乌梁素海沉水植物光谱特征,并研究了冠层水深对乌梁素海沉水植物反射光谱的影响,建立了乌梁素海沉水植物冠层水深反演模型.结果表明:1)挺水植物在短波红外1662 nm和2223 nm附近分别有一个反射峰,这是挺水植物区别于沉水植物和漂浮藻类的重要波段; 0深度沉水植物(WDC=0)与漂浮藻类的光谱反射率非常接近,但是在绿波段(550～690 nm)有明显差异,因此,可以利用绿波段和短波红外波段的光谱特征来区分挺水植物、沉水植物和漂浮藻类.2)沉水植物群落的光谱反射率随冠层水深的增加而降低,在700～900 nm波段范围内变化最为明显,且在700～735 nm波段附近,沉水植物群落光谱反射率与冠层水深呈显著负相关.3)在建立的单波段/波段比沉水植物冠层水深反演模型中,波段比反演模型要优于单波段反演模型,波段比反演模型的决定系数R2 0.70,均方根误差13.70 cm,平均相对误差28%,反演精度较好,适用于10～60 cm沉水植物冠层水深的反演.4)利用波段响应函数,将实测光谱反射率积分到Landsat-8 OLI波段上,建立OLI了冠层水深反演模型,其中,波段比幂函数模型反演效果最好,R2为0.49,均方根误差为18.17 cm,平均相对误差40.05%.可用于精确大气校正后乌梁素海沉水植物冠层水深的反演.     

Three-layer model for vertical velocity distribution in open channel flow with submerged rigid vegetation

Based on the detailed laboratory experiments and theoretical analysis, a new three-layer model is proposed to predict the vertical velocity distribution in an open channel flow with submerged vegetation. The time averaged velocity and turbulence behaviour of a steady uniform flow with fully submerged artificial rigid vegetation was measured using a 3D Micro ADV, and the vertical distribution of velocity and Reynolds shear stress at different vegetation height, vegetation density and measuring positions were obtained. The results show that the velocity profile consists of three hydrodynamic regimes (i.e. the upper non-vegetated layer, the outer and bottom layer within vegetation); accordingly different methods had been adopted to describe the vertical velocity distribution. For the upper non-vegetated layer, a modified mixing length theory combined with the concept of ‘the new vegetation boundary layer’ was adopted, and an analytical model was presented to predict the vertical velocity distribution in this region. For the bottom layer within vegetation, the depth average velocity was obtained by numerically solving the momentum equations. For the upper layer within vegetation, the analytical solution was presented by expressing the shear stress as a formula fitted to the experimental data. Finally, the analytical predictions of the vertical velocity over the whole flow depth were compared with the results obtained by other researchers, and the good agreement proved that the three-layer model can be used to predict the velocity distribution of the open channel flow with submerged rigid vegetation.     

An improved formula for incipient sediment motion in vegetated open channel flows

Quantifying incipient sediment motion in vegetated open channel flow is pivotal for estimating bed load transport and the aquatic ecological environment in rivers.A new formula is developed to predict the critical flow velocity for incipient sediment motion in the presence of emergent vegetation,by incorporating the influence of vegetation drag that characterizes the effects of mean flow and turbulence on sediment movement.The proposed formula is shown to agree with existing experimental data.Mo...     

NONUNIFORMOPEN CHANNEL FLOW WITH UPWARD SEEPAGE THROUGH LOOSE BEDS

The Reynolds stress and bed shear stress are important parameters in fluvial hydraulics. Steady-nonuniform flow in open channels with streamwise sloping beds having upward seepage through loose beds is theoretically analyzed to estimate the Reynolds stress and bed shear stress. Equations of the Reynolds stress and bed shear stress are developed, assuming a modified logarithmic velocity distribution law due to upward seepage, and using the Reynolds and continuity equations of two-dimensional flow in open channels.     

The mechanism of energy loss and transition in a flow with submerged vegetation

The mechanism of energy balance in an open-channel flow with submerged vegetation was investigated. The energy borrowed from the local flow, energy spending caused by vegetation drag and flow resistance, and energy transition along the water depth were calculated on the basis of the computational results of velocity and Reynolds stress. Further analysis showed that the energy spending in a cross-section was a maximum around the top of the vegetation, and its value decreased progressively until reaching zero at the flume bed or water surface. The energy borrowed from the local flow in the vegetated region could not provide for spending; therefore, surplus borrowed energy in the non-vegetated region was transmitted to the vegetated region. In addition, the total energy transition in the cross-section was zero; therefore, the total energy borrowed from the flow balanced the energy loss in the whole cross-section. At the same time, we found that there were three effects of vegetation on the flow: turbulence restriction due to vegetation, turbulence source due to vegetation and energy transference due to vegetation, where the second effect was the strongest one.     

Studies on emergent flow over vegetative channel bed with downward seepage

Experimental observations in a tilting flume having a bed covered with rice plants (Oryza sativa) are used to analyse the flow characteristics of flexible emergent vegetation with downward seepage. The flow velocity for no-seepage and with seepage is reduced by, on average, 52% and 33%, respectively, as the flow reaches the downstream end with vegetation. Higher Reynolds stress occurs at the start of the vegetation zone; hence, bed material transport occurs in this region. The results indicate that the bed is no longer the primary source of turbulence generation in vegetated flow; rather it is dominated by turbulence generated by the vegetation stems. The local effect of the presence of vegetation causes variations in the hydrodynamic characteristics along the vegetated portion of the channel, which leads to erosion and deposition in the vegetation zone. The experiments show that vegetation can provide considerable stability to channels by reducing channel erosion even with downward seepage.     

抚仙湖近60年来沉水植物群落变化趋势分析

自1960s以来,抚仙湖沿岸带沉水植物群落发展迅速,而监测频率相对不足.为了解抚仙湖沉水植物群落现状及过去60年内的变化趋势,于2016年7月,对抚仙湖全湖沉水植物进行调查,并结合以往多次调查数据进行趋势分析.本次调查设置了36条样带共41个样点.在实测数据验证后,使用卫星多光谱相机数据基于归一化植被指数(NDVI)计算全湖沉水植物分布面积.此外,计算了物种在沿岸带植被区的平均生物量、优势度和群落多样性指数.结果表明:抚仙湖沉水植物2016年夏季分布面积为5.14 km2,平均生物量(鲜重)密度为9.8 kg/m2,最高48.7 kg/m2,全湖总现存量(鲜重)5.02×104t;共采集到沉水植物13种(类),隶属于5科6属.其中,生物量最高的物种是金鱼藻(Ceratophyllum demersum),其次是黑藻(Hydrilla verticillata)和穗花狐尾藻(Myriophyllum spicatum);出现频度最高的物种是穗花狐尾藻,其次是苦草(Vallisneria natans)和篦齿眼子菜(Potamogeton pectinatus);物种优势度最大的物种是穗花狐尾藻,其次是金鱼藻和黑藻;抚仙湖各样点沉水植物香农-威纳多样性指数介于0.05～1.28之间,全湖平均值为0.75;除轮藻类外,沉水植物群丛的冠层在1.5～4 m之间,其中金鱼藻群丛冠层最高.丝状附着藻大量出现,附着在高大的沉水植物冠层上的生物量远远多于附着在基质上的;丝状附着藻主要附着在群落上层沉水植物100 cm以内的植冠上.在过去的60年来,抚仙湖沉水植物分布面积、全湖总生物量和物种丰富度呈增加的趋势;低矮的草甸型物种如轮藻类、苦草等优势度下降,高大的冠层型沉水植物如穗花狐尾藻、金鱼藻等成为优势种;外来物种伊乐藻在最近几年出现并成为次优势种;丝状附着藻生物量增加.以上结果表明,目前抚仙湖沉水植物群落处于生物量、分布面积和多样性最高的阶段,是维持和保护的关键时期.但相比于国外类似湖泊,抚仙湖沉水植物丰富度一直较低,目前冠层型植物占优势、外来物种快速发展和丝状附着藻增殖的态势,将会引起群落结构不稳定,如果不加以保护和管理,可能会朝着富营养化湖泊的群落结构方向发展,进而对沿岸带水质产生不利影响.除了进一步控制抚仙湖入湖营养负荷外,我们建议对群落上层高大的冠层型沉水植物进行收割,收割深度为100 cm,从而控制冠层型沉水植物以及附着在其上的丝状附着藻,为草甸型沉水植物的发展创造条件,引导抚仙湖沉水植物群落向贫营养化湖泊的群落结构方向发展,但其可行性尚需开展研究.     

A method for canopy water content estimation for highly vegetated surfaces-shortwave infrared perpendicular water stress index

In this paper, a new method for canopy water content (FMC) estimation for highly vegetated surfaces- shortwave infrared perpendicular water stress index (SPSI) is developed using NIR, SWIR wavelengths of Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM ) on the basis of spectral features and distribution of surface targets with different water conditions in NIR-SWIR spectral space. The developed method is further explored with radiative transfer simulations using PROSPECT, Lillesaeter, SailH and 6S. It is evident from the results of validation derived from satellite synchronous field measurements that SPSI is highly correlated with FMC, coefficient of determination (R squared) and root mean square error are 0.79 and 26.41%. The paper concludes that SPSI has a potential in vegetation water content estimation in terms of FMC.     

Interpolation between Darcy–Weisbach and Darcy for laminar and turbulent flows

An equation describing flow in an open channel with obstacles is derived, following the conservation of momentum approach used by Bélanger and St. Venant. When the obstacles are all submerged the result yields the Darcy–Weisbach equation for turbulent flow in pipes and open channels. When the obstacles are only partially submerged the result leads to the governing equation in a porous medium. If the flow is turbulent the square of the velocity is proportional to the hydraulic gradient and if the flow is laminar, which is the usual case, the velocity is proportional to the hydraulic gradient. This last result is in agreement with Darcy’s law in porous media. Thus our equation interpolates between and reduces to, the two fundamental results of Darcy. In general our equation should prove useful in practice for open flow in a channel with both submerged and emerging obstacles.