The influence of lee sediment behind large bed elements on bedload transport rates in supply-limited channels

A coarse surface layer can help to limit bedload transport rates in channels with cobble and gravel beds. In these systems, periodic boulder-sized clasts often exist with small deposits of fine material in the lee of these large bed elements. A combined field and flume study was conducted to investigate the potential impact of lee deposits with distinctly finer sediment-sizes behind boulders on bedload transport rates. Detailed sediment characterizations were performed on surface, subsurface, and lee sediments in two coarse-bedded Connecticut channels. Bedload measurements also were conducted in a series of flows that approached the bankfull level in these two systems to determine transport rates and the size distribution of bedload material. A 6-m long, 0.5-m wide flume was used to model these systems with fine sediment passing over a fixed bed of sediment particles with uniform-sized, large bed elements. Sediment distributions of the lee deposits in the two Connecticut channels indicate that lee deposits may be produced from winnowing of sediments from the surface layer. Lee deposits also exhibit sediment distributions similar to bedload sediment distributions from low to near-bankfull flow in one of the two channels. Bedload sediments in the second channel were finer than lee deposits, presumably from selective entrainment of fines. Flume experiments demonstrate that bedload transport rates are lower for periods of steady flow relative to periods that include either an increase or decrease in discharge. The results show that lee sediments establish a metastable deposit behind each obstruction for a given discharge. Either increases or decreases in discharge disrupt this temporary stability and increase sediment delivery to the main flow. The study suggests that the influence of the rate of change in discharge may be as important as the absolute magnitude of discharge on sediment transport rates at moderate and low discharges in sediment-limited systems with large bed elements.     

Channel responses to varying sediment input: A flume experiment modeled after Redwood Creek, California

At the reach scale, a channel adjusts to sediment supply and flow through mutual interactions among channel form, bed particle size, and flow dynamics that govern river bed mobility. Sediment can impair the beneficial uses of a river, but the timescales for studying recovery following high sediment loading in the field setting make flume experiments appealing. We use a flume experiment, coupled with field measurements in a gravel-bed river, to explore sediment transport, storage, and mobility relations under various sediment supply conditions. Our flume experiment modeled adjustments of channel morphology, slope, and armoring in a gravel-bed channel. Under moderate sediment increases, channel bed elevation increased and sediment output increased, but channel planform remained similar to pre-feed conditions. During the following degradational cycle, most of the excess sediment was evacuated from the flume and the bed became armored. Under high sediment feed, channel bed elevation increased, the bed became smoother, mid-channel bars and bedload sheets formed, and water surface slope increased. Concurrently, output increased and became more poorly sorted. During the last degradational cycle, the channel became armored and channel incision ceased before all excess sediment was removed. Selective transport of finer material was evident throughout the aggradational cycles and became more pronounced during degradational cycles as the bed became armored. Our flume results of changes in bed elevation, sediment storage, channel morphology, and bed texture parallel those from field surveys of Redwood Creek, northern California, which has exhibited channel bed degradation for 30 years following a large aggradation event in the 1970s. The flume experiment suggested that channel recovery in terms of reestablishing a specific morphology may not occur, but the channel may return to a state of balancing sediment supply and transport capacity.     

北洛河下游河槽形成与输沙特性

北洛河发湖泊于黄河粗沙来源区，年均含沙量达１２８ｋｇ／ｍ＾３年均流量仅２５ｍ＾３．ｓ，是典型的多沙河流，但由于泥沙主要由高含沙洪水输送，平水流量小，含沙量低，经常保持窄深稳定河槽，使高含沙洪水挟带的泥沙能顺利输送而不淤，并形成弯曲性河流。     

黄河龙门—三门峡段河漫滩组成物质的粒度特征

本文分析了河漫滩组成物质的粒度组成特征，并与河床南粒径级配与悬移质粒和戏级配进行了比较，研究了河漫滩度及物质组成的河槽几何形成的影响。     

Serious problems in using equations to estimate bedload yields for coastal rivers in NSW

Bedload yields have been calculated using eight bedload equations at a total of 11 gauging sites in four coastal river basins in New South Wales. Comparisons of yields calculated by each equation at each site show enormous variations. Furthermore, on the Manning River, where calculations could be made on the four main tributaries and compared to those from the trunk channel below their combined confluence, there was no recognisable continuity of results. For the following reasons, the use of bedload formulae on these rivers appears to be a futile exercise. Firstly, the formulae appear to be inherently unstable under natural field conditions. Secondly, application of the formulae must rely on extrapolated flow data, as actual flow measurements are rarely conducted at discharges that are more than a small fraction of largest discharges recorded at any site. Thirdly, formulae must be applied assuming an unlimited availability of bed material; yet the rivers studied here behave as ‘conveyor belts’ of considerable power but with very low and irregular rates of sediment feed. Finally, temporal step‐functional shifts in climate and flow regimes are shown to have an important impact on estimation of sediment yields. The implication of these results is that, until there is a carefully monitored scientific program of bedload measurement or estimates of reservoir sedimentation on the rivers of south eastern Australia, there can be no reliable evaluation of sediment yields from these rivers. As a result, the impact of gravel extraction, the dispersal of mine tailings, or the construction of dams can not be adequately assessed for this region, nor probably for the rest of Australia.     

山区河流准三维水沙输运与河床演变模拟

在渠道水力学和河流动力学研究的基础上，对不规则河流形态下的纵向流速分布和弯道水流进行了讨论，并分析了任意断面和垂线位置的流场计算公式。在综合各种泥沙动力学研究成果基础之上，探讨了在天然河流中的悬移质输沙能力与沉积条件，分析了河床质起动的控制性因素及推移质输沙方程。提出了受冲淤影响的河床质粒径组成和动态递推公式。结合这些流场与泥沙计算方法及河床形态调整技术，作者提出一个准三维河流动力学模型。该模型只需要河流几何形状、人流条件以及泥沙级配参数，能够模拟出不规则几何形态的河道断面流速分布及平面流场分布，并且对于弯道水流特征与泥沙输送一沉积特征也能得到较好的表现。该模型是对有关河流演变理论和实验成果的综合应用，为研究山区高含沙水流下的河床变形以及洪水演进提供了强有力的工具。     

瓯江河口输沙模式与应用研究*

本文从河口塑造与输沙关系、流域泄沙与输移模式,以及口外来沙与潮流输移特征等三方面,探讨河口区的泥沙运移规律和补给来源。并在此基础上,提出粗细不同粒级的造床泥沙按不同方式治理的设想。     

Changeability of Movable Bed‐Surface Particles in Natural,Gravel‐Bed Channels and Its Relation to Bedload Grain Size Distribution (Scott River,Svalbard)

The presented paper analyses the variability of grain size distribution parameters of bedload transported by the gravel‐bed Scott River (Svalbard) draining a glacier catchment with an area of 10 km². The grain size distribution analysis is one of the basic elements of identification of the fluvial transport mechanisms in gravel‐bed rivers. It is used for the determination of threshold values for bedload movement. It is also treated as an important indicator of the origin, routes of distribution, and conditions of transport and deposition of fluvial bedload. The field study in a natural proglacial gravel‐bed channel was carried out at two reaches in the mouth section of Scott River. The study revealed relatively high temporal variability and similar mean parameters of grain size distribution in conditions of low discharges. Bedload transport rates reached a mean of 71.9–76.0 kg d^?1 in channel cross‐section. Bedload texture was dominated by gravels with a proportional contribution of the fine‐grained fraction along with very fine‐grained gravels (8‐2 mm) of 38.8%. The medium‐grained fraction (16‐8 mm) constituted 33.7%, with a lower contribution from the coarse‐grained fraction (32‐16 mm) of 23.2%, and the very coarse‐grained fraction (64‐32 mm) of 4.4%. Two periods in the course of bedload transport and distribution of grain size distribution parameters were distinguished based on variation of hydro‐meteorological conditions. The first half of the measurement period was distinguished by significantly higher values of daily loads and increased contribution of the coarse‐grained and very coarse‐grained fraction (28–31% and 6.2–6.6%, respectively). During this time, the river discharged up to 94% of bedload. This resulted in a clear tendency for riverbed scouring. The second half was distinguished by generally low daily bedload transport rates (<10 kg d^?1), an increase in contribution of fine‐ and very fine‐grained gravels (42–55.6%), and a change in the tendency to aggradation. Grain size indices were more varied, and grains were usually finer and better sorted. Selective transport processes, often related to redeposition, were dominant in the channel. Along with an increase in flow velocity, conditions for material deposition became more variable. This was manifested in weaker sorting and an increase in grain diameter.     

Straight from the source's mouth: Controls on field-constrained sediment export across the entire active Corinth Rift,central Greece

The volume and grain-size of sediment supplied from catchments fundamentally control basin stratigraphy. Despite their importance, few studies have constrained sediment budgets and grain-size exported into an active rift at the basin scale. Here, we used the Corinth Rift as a natural laboratory to quantify the controls on sediment export within an active rift. In the field, we measured the hydraulic geometries, surface grain-sizes of channel bars and full-weighted grain-size distributions of river sediment at the mouths of 47 catchments draining the rift (constituting 83% of the areal extent). Results show that the sediment grain-size increases westward along the southern coast of the Gulf of Corinth, with the coarse-fraction grain-sizes (84^th percentile of weighted grain-size distribution) ranging from approximately 19 to 91 mm. We find that the median and coarse-fraction of the sieved grain-size distribution are primarily controlled by bedrock lithology, with late Quaternary uplift rates exerting a secondary control. Our results indicate that grain-size export is primarily controlled by the input grain-size within the catchment and subsequent abrasion during fluvial transport, both quantities that are sensitive to catchment lithology. We also demonstrate that the median and coarse-fraction of the grain-size distribution are predominantly transported in bedload; however, typical sand-grade particles are transported as suspended load at bankfull conditions, suggesting disparate source-to-sink transit timescales for sand and gravel. Finally, we derive both a full Holocene sediment budget and a grain-size-specific bedload discharged into the Gulf of Corinth using the grain-size measurements and previously published estimates of sediment fluxes and volumes. Results show that the bedload sediment budget is primarily comprised (~79%) of pebble to cobble grade (0.475–16 cm). Our results suggest that the grain-size of sediment export at the rift scale is particularly sensitive to catchment lithology and fluvial mophodynamics, which complicates our ability to make direct inferences of tectonic and palaeoenvironmental forcing from local stratigraphic characteristics.     

Human modifications to the sediment regime of the Lower Mississippi River flood plain

The Mississippi River is one of the most regulated rivers in the world. Human modifications constructed mainly after 1920 include dams and reservoirs, artificial levees, dikes, concrete revetments and a series of channel cutoffs. This paper examines some of the effects of these modifications on the channel and sediment budget of the river. In particular, the changes to the thalweg profile and the size of channel bars are examined in detail. It is concluded, that prior to the 1930s, when major modifications were introduced, the Lower Mississippi River was an aggrading meandering river. The role of the flood plain has also changed. Prior to modifications, the flood plain was the major sediment source as the result of bank caving. Today the flood plain provides only a minor amount of sediment. It can be shown that major degradation to the channel including the growth of channel bars has occurred as a result of these engineered modifications. The data also indicates that the different geomorphic regions respond to modifications in different ways.     

Valley confinement as a factor of braided river pattern for the Platte River

The Platte River in Nebraska has evolved in the twentieth century from a predominantly braided river pattern to a mélange of meandering, wandering, anastomosed, island braided, and fully braided reaches. Identifying the factors that determine the occurrence of a fully braided main channel was the objective of this study. Aerial photography, gage flow data, ground-surveyed cross sections, bed material samples, and the results of sediment transport modeling were used to examine factors that control spatial change in main river pattern of the central Platte River. Valley confinement is identified as the determining factor of braided river in nine of eleven divisions of the central Platte River. Flow reduction and the interruption of sediment supply are identified as determining factors preventing fully braided river in the remaining two of eleven reaches.Valley confinement, the topography which limits the width of the floodplain, was initially measured as width between historical banks (predevelopment river banks). This metric was later refined to width between confining features (historical banks, remnant bars, bridge abutments, protected banks and levees). Under existing conditions, the main channel of the central Platte River is fully braided when valley confinement (width between confining features) is 600 m or less and begins to divide into the multiple channels of an anastomosed pattern when valley confinement (width between confining features) exceeds 600 m When Platte River flow is divided between two to four major anabranches, a fully braided pattern in the main channel of the main anabranch requires a more confined valley of 400 m or less.Valley confinement is demonstrated to be the dominant factor in determining river pattern in the central Platte River, although this factor is not normally considered in the continuum of channel pattern model. Conclusions from this study can be used to increase the occurrence of fully braided main channel in the central Platte River, to aid habitat recovery for endangered or threatened bird species that favor this river pattern. Consideration of valley confinement with river continuum factors can aid river managers by improving predictions of river pattern in response to management actions.     

Hydraulic and sedimentary processes causing anastomosing morphology of the upper Columbia River, British Columbia, Canada

The upper Columbia River, British Columbia, Canada, shows typical anastomosing morphology — multiple interconnected channels that enclose floodbasins — and lateral channel stability. We analysed field data on hydraulic and sedimentary processes and show that the anastomosing morphology of the upper Columbia River is caused by sediment (bedload) transport inefficiency, in combination with very limited potential for lateral bank erosion because of very low specific stream power (≤ 2.3 W/m²) and cohesive silty banks. In a diagram of channel type in relation to flow energy and median grain size of the bed material, data points for the straight upper Columbia River channels cluster separately from the data points for braided and meandering channels. Measurements and calculations indicate that bedload transport in the anastomosing reach of the upper Columbia River decreases downstream. Because of lateral channel stability no lateral storage capacity for bedload is created. Therefore, the surplus of bedload leads to channel bed aggradation, which outpaces levee accretion and causes avulsions because of loss of channel flow capacity. This avulsion mechanism applies only to the main channel of the system, which transports 87% of the water and > 90% of the sediment in the cross-valley transect studied. Because of very low sediment transport capacity, the morphological evolution of most secondary channels is slow. Measurements and calculations indicate that much more bedload is sequestered in the relatively steep upper anastomosing reach of the upper Columbia River than in the relatively gentle lower anastomosing reach. With anastomosing morphology and related processes (e.g., crevassing) being best developed in the upper reach, this confirms the notion of upstream rather than downstream control of upper Columbia River anastomosis.     

长江中下游河床沉积物分布特征

对长江中下游武汉至河口段304处河床沉积物样品进行了粒度测量与分析,通过各参数间的模拟、统计及对比,探讨了沉积物粒度、水动力因素及河床地貌三者间的关系。研究结果表明：本区河床沉积物以中、细砂为主,床底搬运十分微弱,河道相对稳定;从上至下沿程有明显的“粗-细-粗-细”粒径变化,主要反映河流动力地貌、动力沉积特征;粒径在河床的沿程分布总体为北粗南细,说明北岸侵蚀,南岸淤积的特点。研究同时也表明,颗粒因河型不同而迥异;颗粒偏态度-峭度在不同河型中表现各异,对区分顺直微弯分汊和鹅头形分汊河道尤为显著。     

The timing and magnitude of coarse sediment transport events within an upland,temperate gravel-bed river

This paper describes the application of a new instrument to continuously measure bedload transport, an impact sensor, to a 72 km² test catchment in the Yorkshire Dales, northern England. Data from a network of impact sensors are linked to repeat surveys of channel morphological response, to get a better understanding of the conditions that lead to sediment generation and transfer. Results suggest certain areas of the catchment act as key sediment sources at the annual time scale, with material being quickly delivered to the lower parts of the catchment along the steep bedrock channel. Sediment transfer within the tributaries occurs in significantly smaller magnitudes than within the main channel; but it moves more frequently and at different times of the year, with transfer rates being strongly conditioned by larger-scale valley geomorphology. The lower 5.6 km reach sees a significant reduction in gradient and a widening of the valley. This permits significant accumulation within the channel, which has persisted for many years. This lower reach is very sensitive to changes in sediment supply and there is good agreement between changes in bedload transport data and the surveyed channel response. These observations have major implications for how river management projects should be developed in upland environments, especially those where large-scale geomorphological controls have a major impact upon the sediment transfer process. Evidence suggests that where river management restricts lateral movement of the channel and transfer of sediment into floodplain storage, changes in sediment supply can lead to areas of severe accumulation, acceleration of bank erosion and exacerbated flood risk.     

Morphodynamics of a pseudomeandering gravel bar reach

A large number of rivers in Tuscany have channel planforms, which are neither straight nor what is usually understood as meandering. In the typical case, they consist of an almost straight, slightly incised main channel fringed with large lateral bars and lunate-shaped embayments eroded into the former flood plain. In the past, these rivers have not been recognised as an individual category and have often been considered to be either braided or meandering. It is suggested here that this type of river planform be termed pseudomeandering.A typical pseudomeandering river (the Cecina River) is described and analysed to investigate the main factors responsible for producing this channel pattern. A study reach (100×300 m) was surveyed in detail and related to data on discharge, channel changes after floods and grain-size distribution of bed sediments. During 18 months of topographic monitoring, the inner lateral bar in the study reach expanded and migrated towards the concave outer bank which, concurrently, retreated by as much as 25 m. A sediment balance was constructed to analyse bar growth and bank retreat in relation to sediment supply and channel morphology. The conditions necessary to maintain the pseudomeandering morphology of these rivers by preventing them from developing a meandering planform, are discussed and interpreted as a combination of a few main factors such as the flashy character of floods, sediment supply (influenced by both natural processes and human impact), the morphological effects of discharges with contrasting return intervals and the short duration of flood events. Finally, the channel response to floods with variable sediment transport capacity (represented by bed shear stress) is analysed using a simple model. It is demonstrated that bend migration is associated with moderate floods while major floods are responsible for the development of chute channels, which act to suppress bend growth and maintain the low sinuosity configuration of the river.     

Testing links between river patterns and in-channel characteristics using MRPP and ANOVA

This study tests the assumption that the characteristics of channels within multiple channel rivers are different from those of single channel rivers. Some river restoration approaches propose radical transformation of river patterns, from multiple to single channels, based on the link between river patterns and their in-channel characteristics. Determining the links between river patterns and their in-channel characteristics is complicated by differences in geology, history, climate and discharge among rivers. Furthermore, multiple channel rivers are composed of a mosaic of channel types with a range of in-channel characteristics. This study minimizes these problems by analysing a single river containing neighbouring single and multiple channel patterns with little change in discharge downstream, and by analysing all channel types. The study addressed two objectives: to determine the hydraulic geometry, energy, and sediment mobility characteristics of neighbouring single and multiple channel river patterns, and to test for statistical differences in these characteristics between patterns. The Renous River shows a wandering pattern for 11.5 km, with multiple channels around semipermanent islands and abandoned channels in the flood plain. The river displays a single channel river pattern where channels are confined by their valley walls, upstream and downstream of wandering. The analysis was conducted at three scales. First, the confined single channel and wandering multiple channel patterns were compared (pattern scale). Second, the confined channel pattern was compared to single and multiple channel sections within the wandering pattern (section scale). Third, all channel types were compared (channel type scale). Multi response permutation procedure (MRPP) and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze differences between channels. Difference tests found no simple discrimination between the single and multiple channel river patterns of the Renous River. Tests between the single confined and multiple wandering channel patterns found few differences in the in-channel variables. The tests did find differences between multiple channel sections within the wandering pattern and confined single channels; however, a greater number of differences were found between multiple channel and single channel sections within the wandering pattern, highlighting the variability within the wandering pattern. Two groups emerged when all channel types were tested for differences: perennial main-channels containing the thalweg, and ephemeral side-channels. Therefore, side-channels define the in-channel characteristics of wandering rivers because few differences were found among main-channels in either pattern. This analysis suggests that all channel types, not just main-channels, should be investigated to obtain a complete picture of a river pattern prior to any restoration efforts. Engineers must exercise caution when applying the link between river patterns and in-channel characteristics to river restoration efforts.     

Can the narrowing of the Lower Yellow River by regulation result in non-siltation and even channel scouring?

This study considered whether the narrowing of the upper (broad and wandering) reaches of the Lower Yellow River could result in a reduction in sedimentation and even an increase in channel erosion in both the upper and the lower (narrow and meandering) reaches. Analysis of field data and numerical modeling results both justify the proposal to narrow the channel. A positive correlation was found between channel eroded-area and the channel width. Therefore narrowing under conditions of low flow will reduce the amount of erosion in the reach, which, in turn, will reduce the amount of sediment transported into the lower channel. This will reduce the amount of siltation in the lower reaches of the river. However, narrowing under conditions of high flow with a low concentration of sediment will reduce both the extent of flood attenuation along the narrowed channel and the amount of lateral channel bank collapse, which results in increased flows and less sedimentation in the lower channel, leading to increased erosion. When flows with a high concentration of sediment are released from the Xiaolangdi Reservoir, both the lower narrow channel and the upper channel can transport a large amount of the sediment load. It is concluded that the narrowing of the upper broad channel will result in a reduction in sedimentation, or even in channel erosion, in both the upper and the lower channels if the reservoir is operated such that the volume of sediment added during low flows is balanced by the volume eroded during high flows with a low concentration of sediment.     

通过窄槽整治,能否使黄河下游河道不再淤积,甚至发生冲刷?（英文）

This study considered whether the narrowing of the upper(broad and wandering) reaches of the Lower Yellow River could result in a reduction in sedimentation and even an increase in channel erosion in both the upper and the lower(narrow and meandering) reaches. Analysis of field data and numerical modeling results both justify the proposal to narrow the channel. A positive correlation was found between channel eroded-area and the channel width. Therefore narrowing under conditions of low flow will reduce the amount of erosion in the reach, which, in turn, will reduce the amount of sediment transported into the lower channel. This will reduce the amount of siltation in the lower reaches of the river. However, narrowing under conditions of high flow with a low concentration of sediment will reduce both the extent of flood attenuation along the narrowed channel and the amount of lateral channel bank collapse, which results in increased flows and less sedimentation in the lower channel, leading to increased erosion. When flows with a high concentration of sediment are released from the Xiaolangdi Reservoir, both the lower narrow channel and the upper channel can transport a large amount of the sediment load. It is concluded that the narrowing of the upper broad channel will result in a reduction in sedimentation, or even in channel erosion, in both the upper and the lower channels if the reservoir is operated such that the volume of sediment added during low flows is balanced by the volume eroded during high flows with a low concentration of sediment.     

黄河中下游水沙变化趋势

本文论述由于黄河上游清水区水资源的优先开发,中上游地区工农业用水的增长,而黄河中游地区的水土保持和支流治理的减沙作用不甚明显,龙羊峡水库投入运用后,汛期进入河口镇的水量大幅度减少,使汛期进入黄河下游的基流减小含沙量增加,高含沙洪水出现的机会增多.面临水少沙多的不利情况,应加强宽浅河道的改造及利用窄深河道输送高含沙水流的研究.