On the mixing of rivers with a difference in density: The case of the Negro/Solimões confluence, Brazil

Abstract

Confluences are common components of all riverine systems, and characterized by converging streamlines and potential mixing of separate flows. The fluid dynamics of confluences possess a highly complex structure with several common types of flow features observed.An investigation was carried out in both low and relatively high flow conditions at the confluence of the Negro and Solimões Rivers, Brazil, which ranks among the largest river junctions on Earth. During this field research, acoustic Doppler velocity profiling (ADCP) and water quality sampling were applied to investigate hydrodynamics, sediment transport and mixing characteristics at this confluence. It was found that the location and the width of the mixing interface were closely related to changes of the discharge ratio between the tributaries due to both seasonal and annual variations. Second, a timescales analysis was applied to comparatively identify the contribution to mixing at the Negro/Solimões confluence of four processes: difference in (1) velocity and (2) density between the rivers, (3) bed friction, including form drag, and (4) change in channel width. The analysis demonstrated that adjustments of confluence hydrodynamics and morphodynamics can modify the relative importance of each contribution. Immediately downstream of the junction the effects of differences in velocity and density were comparable, while farther downstream the latter was predominant and the role of bed friction was significant. At the end, this study suggests that mixing at the Negro/Solimões confluence can be explained as a combination of the four hydrologic and morphologic processes.