Alluvial Streams Research Articles

Fluviomorphic trajectories for dryland ephemeral stream channels following extreme flash floods

AbstractEphemeral alluvial streams pose globally significant flood hazards to human habitation in drylands, but sparse data for these regions limit understanding of the character and impacts of extreme flooding. In this study, we document decadal changes in dryland ephemeral channel patterns at two sites in the lower Colorado River Basin (southwestern United States) that were ravaged by extraordinary flash floods in the 1970s: Bronco Creek, Arizona (1971), and Eldorado Canyon, Nevada (1974). We refer to these two floods as ‘fluviomorphic erasure events’, because they produced blank slates for the channels that were gradually moulded by more frequent but much smaller flood events. We studied georectified aerial photos that span ~60 years at each site to show that both study sites recovered to their pre‐flood condition after ~25 years. We employ channel network metrics: stream‐link area (SLA), geometric braiding index and junction‐node density. Each metric decreased during the short‐duration extreme flood erasure events. Subsequently, a fluviomorphic trajectory at a decadal tempo returned the channels to pre‐flood values. The SLA decreased at rates of 3.6%–4.1% per year in the decade following the floods. The extreme flood events decreased the pre‐flood geometric braiding index at the two sites by 56%–68%, and it took 15–24 years for this index to recover to pre‐flood values. In contrast, it took 30–35 years for the channels to recover to a uniform pre‐flood channel form, as indicated by the spatial distribution of bars and junction nodes. Our results document baseline examples of ephemeral stream channel evolution trajectories, as future climatic change will likely accelerate increases in the magnitudes and frequencies of extreme floods and geomorphic erasure events.

Investigating the Hydraulic Behaviours of an Alluvial Meandering River Reach Between Two Barrages

The Abassia-Shammia is a meandering stream in Najaf province. Predicting and estimating the flow behavior of meandering rivers is crucial for designing hydraulic structures in an accurate manner in the vicinity and conducting environmental and ecological studies. The hydraulic properties of an alluvial stream are typically subject to change due to its location between two barrages. In this study, HEC RAS 2D, developed by the Hydrologic Engineering Center’s River Analysis System, was employed to simulate the hydraulic performance of the Euphrates River reach between two series of barrages, i.e., Abbassia and Shammia. Reliable input data, such as Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), land cover classification, and data for the 2023 hydrograph as a boundary condition, were utilized to develop the hydraulic model. The model was calibrated by using the observed water surface elevation from field measurements downstream of Abbassia to match the ones calculated by the model. Hence, the hydraulic model of the Euphrates River was created using an appropriate Manning roughness coefficient value (n = 0.04) based on the most suitable values of statistical indices, correlation coefficient (R²), and root mean squared error (RMSE) to assess the agreement between the observed and simulated data throughout the calibration and validation phases. To visualize the HECRAS2D output, the hydraulic maps for the study region were presented. The ten cross-sections from the field study (investigated at the same period of flow hydrograph) were presented for modeling to emphasize the river's hydraulic behaviors. Based on the results, the water surface elevation ranged between 19.1–29.2 m.a.s.l., and the flow velocity was 2.50 m/s. Meanwhile, the values of bed shear stress (Pa) and the water depth (m) ranged between 0.1 Pa and 8.93 m for the entire river. The results also proved the superiority of the HEC RAS2D model to reliably represent the hydraulic performance of the Euphrates River reach located between the two barrages. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2024-010-05-013 Full Text: PDF

Geomorphological Response of Alluvial Streams to Flood Events during Base-Level Lowering: Insights from Drone-Based Photogrammetric Surveys in Dead Sea Tributaries

The geomorphological impact of base-level lowering on ephemeral alluvial streams has been extensively investigated through fieldwork, experimentation, and modeling. Yet, the understanding of hydrological parameters governing the dynamics of the stream’s geometry during discrete flood events is lacking due to limited direct measurements of flood-scale erosion/deposition. The emergence of novel remote sensing methods allows for quantifying morphological modifications caused by floods in alluvial streams. This study utilizes drone surveys and hydrological data to quantitatively investigate the relation between channel evolution in alluvial tributaries draining to the receding Dead Sea and the hydrological characteristics of flash floods. Drone-based photogrammetric surveys were conducted before and after 25 floods, over a period of four years, to generate centimeter-scale Digital Elevation Models (DEM) and orthophoto maps of two major streams. The outcomes of these DEMs are maps of ground elevation changes (erosion/deposition), thalweg longitudinal profiles, and channel cross sections, revealing the incision/aggradation along and across the streams. Statistical comparison of results with flow hydrographs identified potential relations linking the hydrological characteristics of each flood and the corresponding geomorphological modifications. Peak discharge emerged as the primary factor influencing sediment removal, leading to more efficient sediment evacuation and a negative sediment budget with increased discharge. Water volumes of floods also exhibited a secondary effect on the sediment budget. The chronological order of floods, whether first or later in the season, was identified as the primary factor determining incision magnitude. Knickpoints formed at the streams’ outlets during the dry period, when lake-level drops, amplifying the impact of the first flood. These findings have potential implications for infrastructure planning and environmental management in the context of climate change and altered water runoff. The research highlights the efficiency of drone-based photogrammetry for cost-effective and timely data collection, providing invaluable flexibility for field research.

Morphological Dune Mapping in Shallow Alluvial Stream Using UAV-based Hyperspectral Images

Characterizing morphological features in shallow streams such as dunes and ripples is vital to studies on fluvial geomorphology and in-stream habitat assessments of stream ecology. The paper aimed to examine the feasibility of a conventional hyperspectral method called linear optimal band ratio analysis for capturing the detailed morphologies in shallow small streams, allowing the identification of ripples and dunes. The present study involved a dedicated field experiment at the Gam stream, which is a tributary of the Nakdong River, South Korea. An unmanned aerial vehicle based hyperspectral image was obtained with a spatial resolution of <10 cm and developed an optimal depth-band ratio rating by densely scattered in situ bathymetry measurements with a portable Real Time Kinematic Global Positioning System. The derived hyperspectral bathymetric map with a 7 cm spatial resolution successfully captured the detailed bed morphology, where dunes with sizes of 1.5 m were clearly identifiable. The correlation with depth measured by RTK-GPS was found to be 0.956, with Root Mean Square Error of 0.033 meter. The research confirmed that the conventional linear OBRA used for low-altitude UAV-based hyperspectral images can capture morphological features in shallow streams with a high spatial resolution.

The geomorphological and ecological functioning of the Silala River

AbstractPerennial rivers in desert regions are relevant environments that tend to concentrate most ecosystem services and values, but are not as studied as much as intermittent and ephemeral rivers. This article reports on the main morphological and ecological features of the Silala River, a narrow permanent river in the arid region of Antofagasta, in the north of Chile. The study was motivated by the dispute between Chile and Bolivia concerning the status of the Silala as an international watercourse. Field surveys of sediment transport using traps and marked sediments (colored and tagged clasts) revealed that finer sediments are moved in higher percentages and for longer distances than coarser sediment fractions, which corroborates the size‐selective nature of sediment dynamics in the river. The stream features the typical step/pool‐plane bed morphology that is to be expected in an alluvial river with the given boundary conditions of slope, grain size of sediments, and lateral confinement. Furthermore, the Morphological Quality Index (MQI) classifies the river as featuring overall good morphological conditions and the river hosts an abundant population of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Although this is a non‐native species, their presence shows that the general conditions of the river (availability of food and presence of aquatic habitats) are able to sustain a population of resident fish. Overall, the morphological forms, geomorphic processes, and ecological features of the Silala River are typical of an alluvial stream with a permanent flow regime.This article is categorized under: Science of Water &gt; Water and Environmental Change Human Water &gt; Rights to Water Science of Water &gt; Hydrological Processes Water and Life &gt; Nature of Freshwater Ecosystems

Multipath ecological influence of an iteroparous fish migration from Lake Biwa to an alluvial stream

Abstract An increasing number of studies describe the ecological influence of semelparous and iteroparous fish migrations on spawning streams. This influence consists of not only the carcasses of spent adults, but also the nutrients that they excrete subsidising stream communities. Given the complex food‐web structure of stream communities, which includes aquatic insects from various functional feeding groups, resource subsidies provided by migratory fishes should influence stream communities through multiple pathways. We evaluated the ecological influence of an iteroparous three‐lips fish (Opsariichthys uncirostris uncirostris) in a alluvial stream by treating fish weirs as large‐scale manipulative field experiments. Between fish‐bearing and fish‐free areas, we compared concentrations of nutrients and fine particulate organic matter (FPOM), and compared densities and stable isotopes of periphyton and benthic macroinvertebrates. The presence of the three‐lips increased the concentrations of ammonium, soluble reactive phosphorus, particulate organic carbon and nitrogen, and chlorophyll‐a densities by up to 2.7‐fold. The δ15N of FPOM and macroinvertebrates during the migratory season were 2.8–7.0‰ higher in the fish‐bearing area, indicating a greater contribution of fish‐derived organic matter. Three‐lips subsidised stream macroinvertebrates through multiple pathways: consumers fed on (1) periphyton increased by the fish nutrient subsidy, (2) fish‐derived organic matter (such as fish carcasses and eggs), and (3) FPOM with fragmented periphyton and fish‐derived organic matter constituents. Results showed that, given the complex food‐web structures in alluvial streams, migratory fish influence stream ecosystems in complex ways. Further studies of the ecological influence of migratory fishes in alluvial streams are needed.

Increasing objectivity associated with anadromous fish redd identification using a discriminant function analysis

Many fish species reproduce by creating nests (redds) in alluvial stream gravels, which can be used to track population trends. However, temporal and spatial overlap across multiple redd-building species can hinder redd species classification. This is further complicated when the corresponding adult is not present. Spawning surveys on the Lower American River (LAR) have been conducted since 2003 to document fall-run Chinook Salmon and California Central Valley (CCV) steelhead spawning. Other fish species on the LAR have overlapping reproduction timing, including Pacific Lamprey. Prior to 2016, a redd observed during field surveys that was not associated with a fish observation was assigned species identity based on seasonal timing and professional judgement. However, this method has potential to misidentify the species that built the redd due to overlap in spawning season and similarity in redd dimensions among LAR fish species. To decrease subjectivity associated with unoccupied redd identification, we used occupied redd data to build a discriminant function analysis (DFA), which predicts redd species identity based on field-measured parameters that vary across species including time of year, redd dimensions, and ambient conditions. We compared model accuracy across 6 years in which additional “fish on” observations were added annually to the discriminant function to test whether adding observational data improved model accuracy. We also applied the discriminant function to historical redd data in which species identification was made based on professional judgement to compare the two approaches. DFA accuracy improved with additional years of data, and in the iteration that included the most observational data it was highly accurate in identifying fall-run Chinook Salmon and CCV steelhead (96% and 97%, respectively). Accuracies for Pacific Lamprey were slightly lower (91%) than salmonids due to the relatively low number of “fish-on” redd observations for Pacific Lamprey. Comparisons between the DFA and historical identification based on professional opinion were generally similar, but with up to 19.6% disagreement in some years. Our study demonstrates that physical and temporal metrics can support more accurate species identification, and field data can be used to support more robust population estimates and inform future habitat restoration decisions.

Applying Electrical Resistivity Tomography and Biological Methods to Assess the Hyporheic Zone Water Exchanges in Two Mediterranean Stream Reaches

The hyporheic zone (HZ) is a critical area of all river ecosystems. It is the area beneath the stream and adjacent to the stream, where the surface water and groundwater are mixed. The HZ extends both vertically and laterally depending on the sediment configuration, namely their porosity and permeability. This influences the hyporheic communities’ structural pattern and their active dispersal among distinct rivers compartments and alluvial aquifers. It is still difficult to assess the spatial extent of the HZ and the distribution of the mixing zones. This study applies time-lapse images obtained using electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) of 20 m wide and 5 m deep alluvial streams, with regards to the structural pattern of hyporheic communities represented by cyclopoids and ostracods, in order to assess the extent of the HZ in the riverbed and the parafluvial sediment configurations. The ERT images obtained at the hyporheic Site 1 are characterized by alluvial deposits dominated by coarse and very coarse sands with resistivity values ranging from ~20 to 80 Ohm.m, indicating a permeable zone up to ~0.5 m thick and extending laterally for ca. 5 m from the channel and associated with the hyporheic zone. The sediment configurations, texture, and structure indicate an active surface–hyporheic water exchange and low water retention into the sediments. This is also indicated by the hyporheic copepods and ostracods communities’ structure formed by a mixture of non-stygobites (five species) and stygobites (two species). A low-resistivity (&lt;70 Ohm.m) permeable zone located 2.3 m below the streambed and unconnected with the river channel was also detected and associated with the associated alluvial aquifer. In contrast, the resistivity image at Site 2 dominated by coarse, medium, and very fine sands, shows a low-permeability zone in the upper ~0.5 m of the profile, with a resistivity value ranging from ~45 to 80 Ohm.m, indicating a reduced HZ extension in both vertical and lateral dimensions. Here the sediment configurations indicate that the water retention and interaction with the sediment is higher, reflected by more diverse hyporheic communities and with highly abundant stygobite species. The two examples show that non-invasive ERT images and biological assessments provide complementary and valuable information about the characterization of the sub-channel architecture and its potential hydraulic connection to the floodplain aquifer.

Fine-Grained Sediment and Phosphorus Storage in a Suspended-Load-Dominated, Alluvial Channel

HighlightsIn-channel sediment and TP storage were quantified along 13.5 km of a stream.TP and sediment masses were 1 and 3 times greater than their respective annual watershed load.Colluvial material at streambank toe represented the dominant storage pool.Sinuous stream reaches exhibited significantly greater storage versus channelized reaches.Abstract. In-channel storage of both fine sediment and sediment-bound phosphorus has been recognized as potentially large contributors to respective watershed loads, yet they are rarely quantified in the field. In this field-based study, we quantified and characterized in-channel fine sediment and total phosphorus (TP) storage within a third-order stream. We hypothesized storage to be significant within the context of watershed-scale sediment and TP loads and that storage trends are influenced by channel characteristics and hydraulics. In May 2015, the volume of stored in-channel sediment was estimated within a 13.5 km stretch of Walnut Creek, an alluvial stream draining an agriculturally dominated watershed in Jasper County, Iowa, USA. Storage volume was estimated in-field through a series of 240 transects which were stratified across reaches of the varying channel and hydraulic conditions (e.g., sinuosity, stream power). Overall storage volume was broken down into feature classes (e.g., point bars) based on in-channel depositional processes. Following in-field quantification, feature class sediment samples were collected and analyzed for physical properties (e.g., bulk density) and TP concentration. Physical and chemical analyses, coupled with in-field volume estimation, allowed for watershed-scale masses of in-channel sediment and TP to be calculated and then placed within the context of respective annual loads. Sediment and TP were estimated to be stored at ~2.7 Mg m-1 and 0.7 kg m-1, respectively. Sinuous reaches exhibited significantly greater sediment storage volume (p &amp;lt; 0.001) and depth (p &amp;lt; 0.001) versus straight reaches. Reach sinuosity exhibited a significant positive correlation (p = 0.03) with storage mass and represented the most effective storage predictor. The majority of storage mass (72%) was represented by colluvial material accumulations at the streambank toe. Loose bed sediment was the second greatest contributor to storage mass (18%), with the remaining feature classes (e.g., bars) representing a combined ~10%. Sediment storage mass was ~3.25 times greater than the watershed suspended sediment load for 2015. The TP mass was found to be nearly equal to the respective watershed load for 2015. In-channel sediment and TP storage masses within Walnut Creek were found to be significant in comparison to respective annual loads, and thus storage is expected to play a significant role in respective watershed routing, loading, and the overall budgets of these parameters. Though challenging, quantification of in-channel fine sediment and TP storage is necessary to relate source contributions (e.g., streambank erosion) to watershed loads and is critical to account for interannual sediment and TP export. Keywords: Channel evolution, Channel morphology, Iowa, Sinuosity, Stream power, Water quality, Watershed export.

Cross‐Validating Hydromechanical Models and Tracer Test Assessments of Hyporheic Exchange Flow in Streams With Different Hydromorphological Characteristics

AbstractHyporheic exchange flow (HEF) can generally be quantified through two different approaches. The first approach, which is deductive, entails physically based models, supported with relevant observations. The second approach includes inductive assessments of stream tracer tests using solute transport models, which provide a useful mathematical framework that allows for upscaling of results, but included parameters often have a vague physical base, which limits the possibilities of generalizing results using independent hydromorphological observations. To better understand how the physical basis of HEF‐quantifying parameters relates to stream hydromorphology at different spatial scales, we cross‐validated the results from (a) tracer test assessments using a 1D solute transport model that accounts for HEF and (b) an independent hydromechanical model that represents HEF driven by multiscale pressure gradients along the streambed interface. To parameterize the models, topographical surveys, tracer tests, and streambed hydraulic conductivity measurements were performed in 10 stream reaches, differing in terms of geomorphology, slope, and discharge. The results show that the models were cross‐validated in terms of the average exchange velocity, providing a plausible physical explanation for this parameter in small alluvial streams with low discharges, shallow depth, and moderate slopes. However, the hydromechanical model generally resulted in wider residence time distributions and occasionally higher average residence times compared to the tracer test assessments. From the cross‐validated multiscale hydromechanical model, we learned that water surface profile variations were the main drivers of HEF in all investigated streams and that spatial scales between 20 cm and 5 m dominated the estimated HEF velocity.

Numerical Simulations of Meanders Migrating Laterally as They Incise Into Bedrock

AbstractThe problem of meandering in mixed bedrock‐alluvial rivers is more challenging than that of purely alluvial streams, in that alluvial, bed incisional and bank incisional morphodynamics must be accounted for. Here we present a numerical formulation that addresses heretofore unanswered questions. Bed incision is based on abrasion due to saltating grains. The model satisfies mass conservation of alluvium over a partially covered bedrock surface. Bank incision is treated in terms of a measure of the incipient collision of bedload particles with the bank. It is assumed that land accretes along the inside of point bars when the water depth falls below a specified shallow value. All but one of the runs are performed with repetitive two‐step hydrographs. Runs starting from a low‐amplitude sine‐generated curve indicate that sinuosities at least as high as 2.5 can be achieved. The rate of increase of sinuosity declines in time, but does not vanish. For the same hydrograph, increasing the initial thickness of alluvium on the bed causes the rate of vertical bedrock incision to decline, and bend sinuosity to increase at a faster rate. At a sufficiently high thickness, the channel migrates laterally without bed lowering. Bend shape can change dramatically with increasing alluvial thickness, with high thickness favoring more regular bend trains. For the same initial alluvial thickness, increasing the peak flow of the hydrograph causes the vertical incision rate and the rate of sinuosity growth to increase. The model thus captures a wide range of behavior associated with bedrock meandering.

Key morphological changes and their linkages with stream power and land-use changes in the Upper Tapi River basin, India

Knowledge on spatio-temporal variations in planform, hydraulic geometry, and bed-level variations of alluvial streams is required for planning and development of hydraulic structures and bank protection works. In the current study, a Geographic Information System (GIS) has been used to analyze topographical maps, multi-temporal remotely sensed imagery, and hydrologic and hydraulic data to extract the morphological parameters of the Upper Tapi River, India. The river has been found to have consistent migration towards the northern direction, with erosion/deposition on right/left banks. The river has not experienced any major meander except in the lower reaches of the Upper Tapi Gorge and minor braiding conditions at the location where the river emerges from mountainous topography to the plain region. The analyzed river cross sections were found to be depth dominated, and contain large flows within the channel banks. The cross-sections exhibited moderate channel bed adjustments in 1994, 2006, and 2007 wherein excessive sediment flux and stream power were capable of causing morphological changes in the river. High intensity rainfall in the subcatchment resulted in high sediment flux into the river during 1994, which was reported to cause significant aggradation at the downgauging station. The analysis of sediment flux into the river in conjunction with decadal land use land cover, revealed that sediment yield from the catchment was reduced during 2000–2010 due to an increase in water bodies in the form of minor hydraulic structures. The entry of comparatively less sediment laden water into the river, resulted in moderate bed degradation especially in 2006 and 2007 as observed at the downstream station. The methodology applied in the current study is generic in nature and can be applied to other rivers to identify their morphological issues.

Comparing riparian buffer design classification data among watersheds representing Iowa landscapes

AbstractRiparian buffers can improve water quality, but watershed‐scale evaluations of riparian buffering opportunities are rare. A landscape discretization tool called riparian catchments, part of the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) version 3, was applied to evaluate functional riparian settings for 32 headwater watersheds representing three major land resource areas (MLRAs) in Iowa. Riparian settings of 250‐m length were classified based on height above channel and upslope contributing area to show where to place buffers primarily designed to intercept runoff, treat nitrate in shallow groundwater, and/or protect streambanks. Riparian zones found below small riparian catchments were common, typically occupying &gt;50% of streambank lengths in MLRA 103 (northern Iowa) and MLRA 108 (southeast Iowa). In these settings, narrow (6–10 m wide) buffers provide a buffer/contributing area ratio of &gt;0.02 to filter surface runoff, while providing streambank protection. This similarity occurred despite these two MLRAs having contrasting landscapes. Whereas the narrow buffers suggested are associated with ditches and flat terrain in MLRA 103, they occur below short slopes along streams that have well dissected the watersheds in MLRA 108. In MLRA 104 of east‐central Iowa, headwater alluvial streams often had broad low‐lying riparian zones, where wide buffers (&gt;25 m) may be placed to help mitigate nitrate transport in shallow groundwater. The ACPF riparian catchments approach enabled cross‐watershed analyses of riparian settings, while providing spatial data to inform watershed‐scale riparian planning efforts.

Performance of bedload transport equations in a mixed bedrock–alluvial channel environment

Mixed bedrock–alluvial channel beds are common in mountain rivers. It is well-known that in such system the balance between sediment supply and transport capacity defines either the level of the exposure of bedrock (in the riverbed) or its coverage by alluvial material. We investigate whether applying the representation of the energy losses (caused by macro-roughness) developed for alluvial channels improve the capacity of bedload transport equations to predict the bedload transport in a mixed bedrock–alluvial stream. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the performances of five bedload equations against field measurements, while considering the effects of macro-roughness on the equations and the limited availability of mobile sediment. We analyzed the data collected in a stream located in southern Brazil, which has a 2.3% gradient and mixed bed conditions. Optimal results in estimating the bedload transport rate were obtained when using the reduced shear stress τ' and reduction factor of the available bed material (Frm) together in the five tested equations. Analyzing the two approaches separately, the implementation of τ' proved to be more critical for improving the performance of the equations than using Frm alone. Among all the equations, Recking (2013) presented the best result for the case in which 85.2% of the estimates fell within one order of magnitude of the measured transport rates (0.1 < r > 10.0); this was followed by the Recking (2010) (70.4% of estimates within one order of magnitude) and Meyer-Peter and Müller (1948) (37% of estimates within one order of magnitude) equations. In conclusion, we observed that even by implementing flow resistance and with the limited availability of mobile sediment, the equations overestimated the bedload transport rate in the studied river reach, indicating an underestimation of energy loss in the flow resistance equations of mixed bedrock–alluvial channels.

Analysis of scour depth in the case of parallel bridges using HEC-RAS

Abstract Scour is now one of the main problems for river as well as for coastline engineering. Bridges are the vital structures which must be designed to prevent failure against the effects of scour. Scour holes can occur without warning and cause the failure of a bridge. The main significant issues in hydraulic and river engineering are to determine the connection between parameters affecting the maximum and minimum depth of scour. The scour depth in the alluvial stream below a river bed differs based on the flows, pier shape, pier size and sediment characteristics. Dual bridges of basically the same structure are placed parallel to and only a small distance away from an existing bridge, either on the upstream or downstream side. Naturally, the backwater generated by dual bridges is bigger than that of a single bridge but lower than the value resulting from separate consideration of the two bridges. In the present work, an hydraulic model is used to simulate the stability of a bridge in the study area, namely ‘Sardar Bridge’ on the Tapi river. Scour profiles for various flood events have been assessed for a particular bridge. The velocity of flow is used to estimate depths of scour at different piers and abutments. Estimating depth of the scour during the design can significantly decrease the overall cost of bridge foundation construction. Results from the present study show that construction of a new bridge should be proposed on the upstream side rather than downside side of the existing bridge. By doing so, hydraulic stability of the existing bridge is ensured.

Neural Network Prediction of Alluvial Stream Bedforms

Substantial laboratory, field, and theoretical studies have been carried out by many to understand alluvial stream bedform origin, their shapes, equilibrium with the flow, and their depositional structure. The findings of these analyses are often presented as phase or stability diagrams in which the dependence of the various bed states on two or three variable quantities is depicted graphically. However, the several hydrodynamic and sediment-related parameters that control bedform development in alluvial channels makes the construction of stability diagrams that display the complex interactions clearly and consistently problematic. In this study, alluvial stream bedforms are studied using a theory-guided data science approach that assures logical reasoning when analyzing physical phenomena with large amounts of data. First, a theoretical evaluation of parameters that influence bedform development is carried out, followed by a classification of the bedform type with an artificial neural network (ANN) trained using a sizeable collection of 2,412 samples (2,144 from laboratory flumes and 268 from natural streams). The neural network provides reliable predictions of bedform states and distinguishes between laboratory flumes and natural stream channels.

Empirical Studies in Alluvial Streams

Meander flow takes place in one single channel which oscillates more or less regularly with amplitudes that tend to increase with time. Meanders are found in beds of fine sediments with gentle slopes. In this study, effort will be made to investigate meanders’ turbulent boundary layer and to improve the present knowledge about the river meandering phenomena. It is assumed that the development of the perturbations which develop into meanders or braids, is longer than the width of the channel. Interaction be tween the flow and mobile boundaries produces channel patterns which are classified as meandering or braided. It is therefore long compared with the ripples or dunes which cover the bed of such a channel and whose wave length is shorter than the width of the channel. The variation of resistance to flow and rate of transport of bed material with velocity are discussed briefly and taken into account. Meander flow and meander shear stress distribu tion of the channel are described. The basis is a steady, two-dimensional model of flow in an alluvial channel with variable curvature. The meander development is described by forcing a travelling, small-amplitude channel alignment wave on the system, and determining the growth characteristics of the wave. Laboratory data are used to verify the formulas.

Flow–Sediment Turbulent Ejections: Interaction between Surface and Subsurface Flow in Gravel-Bed Contaminated by Fine Sediment

Several researchers have studied turbulent structures, such as ejections, sweeps, and outwards and inwards interactions in flumes, where the streamwise velocity dominates over vertical and transversal velocities. However, this research presents an experimental study in which there are ejections associated with the interchange between surface and subsurface water, where the vertical velocity dominates over the streamwise component. The experiment is related to a surface alluvial stream that is polluted with fine sediment, which is percolated into the bed. The subsurface flow is modified by a lower permeability associated with the fine sediment and emerges to the surface current. Quasi-steady ejections are produced that drag fine sediment into the surface flow. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) measured the velocity field before and after the ejection. The velocity data were analyzed by scatter plots, power spectra, and wavelet analysis of turbulent fluctuations, finding changes in the distribution of turbulence interactions with and without the presence of fine deposits. The flow sediment ejection changes the patterns of turbulent structures and the distribution of the turbulence interactions that have been reported in open channels without subsurface flows.

Identifying dynamic equilibrium of an undeveloped alluvial stream by extremal hypotheses

The indeterminate channel problem arises from uncertainty in finding a closure relation for alluvial channels created by self-organizing erosional and depositional processes. Extremal hypotheses have been proposed as one potential approach to closing the system of governing equations for alluvial channels. Many different extremal hypotheses have been presented, but no substantive evidence has been developed to select which hypothesis may be most appropriate for natural alluvial river systems. This paper evaluates the ability of ten extremal hypotheses to identify dynamic equilibrium across a geomorphic gradient in the remote and undeveloped mid-latitude watershed of Rio Murta, Chile. This study (a) introduces extremal hypotheses, (b) describes the field site and geomorphic conditions, and (c) examines which extremal hypotheses are supported by the field data in identifying the evolutionary trend toward dynamic-equilibrium. The extremal hypotheses that identified dynamic equilibrium within the geomorphic gradient in the field are: (1) minimum kinetic energy, (2) minimum specific stream power, (3) maximum friction factor, and (4) maximum total friction factor, which collectively support minimizing kinetic energy of the system.

Evaluation of Stage–Discharge Relationships in Alluvial Rivers (Case Study: Shahroud River, Qazvin province, Iran)

Many rivers are classified in alluvial rivers. Stage–discharge curve of these rivers is reliable just in measured conditions and for the sections by the use of measured data. Most of the stage–discharge equations are not able to consider flow resistance, and it causes some errors in qualitative and quantitative modeling. Therefore, it seems necessary to determine the accuracy of stage–discharge curve methods in the river sections without hydrometric stations. In this study, Einstein and Barbarossa (Trans ASCE 117:1121–1132, 1952), Engelund and Hansen (A monograph on sediment transport in alluvial streams. Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark, 1967) and White et al. (A new general method for predicting the frictional characteristics of alluvial streams. Report No IT 187. Hydraulics Research Station, Wallingford, England, 1979) methods were investigated in four hydrometric stations in Shahroud River. To do so, after field data collection, the stage–discharge curve of studied hydrometric stations was obtained by the mentioned methods. Results revealed that effect of flow resistance factors increased in maximum discharge. Einstein and Barbarossa’s (1952) method enjoyed the most accuracy in the stations with ripple bed form and discharge less than 20 cms. By increasing discharge or changing the bed form, the accuracy of this method decreased, so in this condition Engelund and Hansen (1967) and White et al.’s (1979) methods showed reliable accuracy. In the rivers with anti-dune bed form, White et al.’s (1979) equation had the most accuracy. Additionally, evaluating the effect of bed form, discharge, bed slope and bed load sediment size indicated that all the methods are highly sensitive to discharge flow and river bed form; on the other hand, bed slope and bed load sediment size are not determining factors in choosing proper method for the development of stage–discharge curve in alluvial rivers.