Revisiting the morphological method in two-dimensions to quantify bed-material transport in braided rivers

Research in the 1990s showed that bed-material transport rates could be estimated at the reach scale in both one-dimension and, over small spatial scales (10s of m), in two-dimensions. The limit on the latter was the spatial scale over which it was possible to obtain distributed data on morphological change. Here, we revisit the morphological method given progress in both topographical data acquisition and hydraulic modelling. The bed-material transport needed to conserve mass is calculated in both one and two dimensions for a 1600 m × 300 m Alpine braided river “laboratory”. High-resolution topographical data were acquired by laser scanning to quantify Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), and morphological changes caused by the flushing of the water intake were derived from repeated surveys. Based on DEMs of differences, 1D bed-material transport rates were calculated using the morphological method. Then, a 2D hydraulic model was combined with a topographic correction to route sediment through the network of braided channels and to obtain a spatially variable estimate of transport in both downstream and cross-stream directions. Monte Carlo simulation was applied to the routing model parameters, allowing identification of the most probable parameter values needed to minimize negative transport. The results show that within-section spatial compensation of erosion and deposition using the 1D treatment leads to substantial local errors in transport rate estimates, to a degree related to braiding intensity. Even though the 2D application showed that a large proportion of the total transport was actually concentrated into one main channel during the studied low flow event, the proportion of transport in secondary anabranches is substantial when the river starts braiding. Investigations of the effects of DEM resolution, competent flow duration and survey frequency related to ‘travelling bedload’ and sequential erosion-deposition emphasized the critical importance of careful data collection in the application of the morphological method. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Controls on the lateral channel-migration rate of braided channel systems in coarse non-cohesive sediment

Lateral movements of alluvial river channels control the extent and reworking rates of alluvial fans, floodplains, deltas, and alluvial sections of bedrock rivers. These lateral movements can occur by gradual channel migration or by sudden changes in channel position (avulsions). Whereas models exist for rates of river avulsion, we lack a detailed understanding of the rates of lateral channel migration on the scale of a channel belt. In a two-step process, we develop here an expression for the lateral migration rate of braided channel systems in coarse, non-cohesive sediment. On the basis of photographic and topographic data from laboratory experiments of braided channels performed under constant external boundary conditions, we first explore the impact of autogenic variations of the channel-system geometry (i.e. channel-bank heights, water depths, channel-system width, and channel slope) on channel-migration rates. In agreement with theoretical expectations, we find that, under such constant boundary conditions, the laterally reworked volume of sediment is constant and lateral channel-migration rates scale inversely with the channel-bank height. Furthermore, when channel-bank heights are accounted for, lateral migration rates are independent of the remaining channel geometry parameters. These constraints allow us, in a second step, to derive two alternative expressions for lateral channel-migration rates under different boundary conditions using dimensional analysis. Fits of a compilation of laboratory experiments to these expressions suggest that, for a given channel bank-height, migration rates are strongly sensitive to water discharges and more weakly sensitive to sediment discharges. In addition, external perturbations, such as changes in sediment and water discharges or base level fall, can indirectly affect lateral channel-migration rates by modulating channel-bank heights. © 2019 The Author. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. © 2019 The Author. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Vegetation turnover in a braided river: frequency and effectiveness of floods of different magnitude

This work addresses the temporal dynamics of riparian vegetation in large braided rivers, exploring the relationship between vegetation erosion and flood magnitude. In particular, it investigates the existence of a threshold discharge, or a range of discharges, above which erosion of vegetated patches within the channel occurs. The research was conducted on a 14 km long reach of the Tagliamento River, a braided river in north‐eastern Italy. Ten sets of aerial photographs were used to investigate vegetation dynamics in the period 1954–2011. By using different geographic information system (GIS) procedures, three aspects of geomorphic‐vegetation dynamics and interactions were addressed: (i) long‐term (1954–2011) channel evolution and vegetation dynamics; (ii) the relationship between vegetation erosion/establishment and flow regime; (iii) vegetation turnover, in the period 1986–2011. Results show that vegetation turnover is remarkably rapid in the study reach with 50% of in‐channel vegetation persisting for less than 5–6 years and only 10% of vegetation persisting for more than 18–19 years. The analysis shows that significant vegetation erosion is determined by relatively frequent floods, i.e. floods with a recurrence interval of c. 1–2.5 years, although some differences exist between sub‐reaches with different densities of vegetation cover. These findings suggest that the erosion of riparian vegetation in braided rivers may not be controlled solely by very large floods, as is the case for lower energy gravel‐bed rivers. Besides flow regime, other factors seem to play a significant role for in‐channel vegetation cover over long time spans. In particular, erosion of marginal vegetation, which supplies large wood elements to the channel, increased notably over the study period and was an important factor for in‐channel vegetation trends. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

2D NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF FLOOD AND FLUVIAL PROCESS IN THE MEANDERING AND ISLAND-BRAIDED MIDDLE YANGTZE RIVER

The characteristics of water flow and sediment transport in a typical meandering and island-braided reach of the middle Yangtze River is investigated using a two-dimensional （2D） mathematical model. The major problems studied in the paper include the carrying capacity for suspended load, the incipient velocity and transport formula of non-uniform sediment, the thickness of the mixed layer on the riverbed, and the partitioning of bed load and suspended load. The model parameters are calibrated using extensive field data. Water surface profiles, distribution of flow velocities, riverbed deformation are verified with site measurements. The model is applied to a meandering and island-braided section of the Wakouzi-Majiazui reach in the middle Yangtze River, which is about 200 km downstream from the Three Gorges Dam, to study the training scheme of the navigation channels. The model predicts the processes of sediment deposition and fiver bed erosion, changes of flow stage and navigation conditions for the first 20 years of impoundment of the Three Gorges Project.     

Invertebrate recolonisation of previously dry channels in the Rakaia River

Recolonisation of previously dry channels by stream invertebrates was studied in the Rakaia River during winter 1981 and summer 1982. The winter experiment continued for 42 days, with stable low flows, whereas the summer experiment was characterised by fluctuating large flows which caused it to be abandoned after 27 days. The fauna was dominated numerically by Chironomidae, a leptophlebiid mayfly (Deleatidium), and oligochaetes during the winter, and by Deleatidium alone during the summer. Recolonisation was considered complete after 33 days in winter and 15 days in summer. Flow fluctuations were the main factor affecting colonisation rates, and it was assumed that drift was the main source of colonising animals. Small freshes during low‐flow periods in winter resulted in a rapid increase in total density of invertebrates and number of taxa present and also affected the population structure of Deleatidium larvae in colonisation baskets. Before these freshes numbers had increased steadily over a 27 day period. In summer large floods during high flow periods initially decreased benthic invertebrate numbers in samples but numbers increased rapidly once the flood had passed. This appears to be the first study of its kind on a large unstable river system.     

The response of braided planform configuration to flow variations,bed reworking and vegetation: the case of the Tagliamento River,Italy

Morphological features of braided rivers (bars, channels and pools) experience major changes in area, shape and spatial distribution as a response to (i) the pulsation of discharge during a flood and (ii) the bed evolution induced by floods. In this work, at‐a‐station relationships between water level and planform configuration were investigated on the Tagliamento River, a large gravel‐bed braided river in northeast Italy, over a 2‐year study period comprising three bankfull events and several small‐to‐medium floods. The analysis was performed on two 1‐km‐long reaches, characterized by different riparian vegetation cover. Ground‐based images with an hourly temporal resolution were acquired using software‐controlled, digital cameras. Bars, channels, pools and vegetated patches were manually digitized on more than 100 rectified images. Sequences of constant‐level images spanning the study period were used to quantify the impact of floods on the stability of at‐a‐station relationships and on the turnover rate of water bodies. The analysis shows that wetted area increased almost linearly with water level in both reaches. The average number of branches per cross‐section peaked at intermediate flow levels, increasing from 2 at low flow up to 6–7. The number of branches displayed the largest fluctuations over time, with significant changes produced also by moderate floods. Turnover rates were high in both reaches, with more than 30% of wetted areas at low flow converting into bare gravel in less than 2 months. Vegetation colonization was found to limit the mobility of the low flow channels over time by concentrating the flow in fewer, deeper anabranches. The number of channels per cross‐section was 30–40% less in the vegetated reach and the proportion of low flow water bodies in the same position after 12 months increased from 3% to 14%. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

鄂尔多斯盆地西北部下白垩统罗汉洞组中的铀矿化与沉积相

基于沉积相的研究认为鄂尔多斯盆地西北部罗汉洞期在缓倾斜坡带发育河流相一辫状河三角洲相一湖泊相沉积。依据酸解烃特征参数C1／∑C,C1／C2＋及酸解烃判别分析（z值法、Φ值法及判别因子法）论证了赋存于罗汉洞组地层中的烃气源于三叠系上统湖相生油岩系中的油型气。通过综合剖析赋存于罗汉洞组中油气的地球化学特征、油气还原蚀变特征和铀矿化关系,论证了罗汉洞组的褪色蚀变（漂白）是渗逸到该层位中的酸解烃类气体对岩石发生诱发蚀变的结果,论述了沉积成岩作用期间在辫状河三角洲相中发生铀初步富集,提出沉积相组合与油气还原蚀变带的空间配置是后期铀矿化空间定位的制约因素。     

二连盆地白音查干凹陷早白垩世腾格尔组沉积特征及物源探讨

根据岩芯、录测井、地震以及其它分析化验资料,对白音查于凹陷早白垩世腾格尔组的沉积特征、沉积相类型及其分布规律进行了详细研究.结果表明,腾格尔组发育扇三角洲、辫状河三角洲、湖泊和浊积扇4种沉积相类型,扇三角洲分布在北部陡坡带,辫状河三角洲分布在南部缓坡带,从盆地边缘到盆地中心,沉积相由扇三角洲、辫状河三角洲沉积逐渐转变为半深湖-深湖沉积,在三角洲侧翼发育滨-浅湖相沉积,在三角洲前缘、前三角洲以及半深湖中发育浊积扇沉积,整体呈东西洼凸相问、南北隆凹成带的格局,这种沉积格局受盆地周边断层和古地形控制.利用岩石组分和重矿物成分进行物源分析,认为白音查干凹陷沉积物丰要来自凹陷北部的巴音宝力格降起和凹陷南部的赛呼都格凸起方向,并具有多期次、阵发性、近物源的特点,母岩岩性主要为沉积岩,其次为岩浆岩,见少量变质岩.     

苏里格气田北部下石盒子组盒8段沉积微相研究

通过对苏里格气田北部20余口钻井岩心的岩石学特征、沉积构造、剖面结构的详细研究,结合测井相标志和古生物标志,认为苏里格气田北部盒8段属辫状河沉积,发育河道和洪泛平原两个业相。河道亚相可进一步划分为河床底部滞留沉积和心滩两个微相,往往组成向上变细的剖面结构,测井曲线一般为中-高幅的齿化或微齿化的箱形或钟形;洪泛平原亚相在剖面结构上表现为砂泥岩的不等厚互层,测井曲线多呈锯齿状。在微相分析的基础上,编制了盒8上和盒8下两个时期的沉积微相平面图,其显示出河道心滩砂体呈南北向展布的规律。根据沉积相的时空展布规律,建立了本区盒8段的沉积相模式。     

石西地区八道湾组三段辫状河三角洲的识别与沉积特征研究

针对前人提出准噶尔盆地腹部石西地区下侏罗统八道湾组三段为曲流河三角洲沉积的观点,笔者根据碎屑岩的结构、沉积构造及砂体的空间展布等特征,认为八道湾组三段是在较强水动力条件下牵引流沉积的产物,其沉积环境应属于辫状河三角洲沉积。通过对研究区八道湾组三段辫状河三角洲的沉积特征进行综合研究,认为该区辫状河三角洲发育2种亚相和5种微相:辫状河三角洲平原分流河道、河漫沼泽,辫状河三角洲前缘水下分流河道、支流间湾、河口砂坝。并分析了其展布特征与演化过程,推测该区八道湾组三段沉积早期湖平面下降,研究区内发育辫状河三角洲前缘沉积;中期湖平面继续下降,发育辫状河三角洲平原沉积;晚期湖平面上升,沉积物有所变细。西北部哈拉阿拉特山—德仑山及扎伊尔山物源体系是其主要物源区。