Alessandra Crosato

Simple physics-based predictor for the number of river bars and the transition between meandering and braiding.

The number of bars that form in an alluvial channel cross section can be determined from a physics-based linear model for alluvial bed topography. The classical approach defines separators between ranges in which river planform styles with certain numbers of bars are linearly stable and linearly unstable. We propose an alternative method that is easier to apply. Instead of defining separators between stable and unstable conditions for certain river planform styles, the method directly estimates the most likely number of bars. It is based on a demonstration that conditions of zero spatial damping in a linear model for steady bars are representative for the bar mode that develops inside a river channel. We argue that a method based on steady bars is more appropriate for real rivers than a method based on free migrating bars. We verified the method by applying it to several existing rivers at bankfull conditions. The results are good for width-to-depth ratios up to 100 but deteriorate for higher width-to-depth ratios. We explain the deficiencies for large width-to-depth ratios from the linearity of the model. The results show that our method can be used as a reliable predictor for whether reducing or enlarging the width of a river will lead to a meandering, transition, or braided planform.

Experimental and numerical findings on the long-term evolution of migrating alternate bars in alluvial channels

Migrating alternate bars form in alluvial channels as a result of morphodynamic instability. Extensive literature can be found on their origin and short-term development, but their long-term evolution has been poorly studied so far. In particular, it is not clear whether migrating bars eventually reach a (dynamic) equilibrium, as in previous studies bars were observed to elongate with time. We studied the long-term evolution of alternate bars by performing two independent long-duration laboratory experiments and some numerical tests with a physics-based depth-averaged model. In a straight flume with constant water flow and sediment recirculation, migrating bars followed a cyclic variation. They became gradually longer and higher for a while, then quickly much shorter and lower. In one case, all migrating bars simultaneously vanished almost completely only to reform soon after. At the same time, steady bars, two to three times as long, progressively developed from upstream, gradually suppressing the migrating bars. We also observed simultaneous vanishing of migrating bars in an annular flume experiment, this time at intervals of 6–8 d. Numerical simulations of long alluvial channels with constant flow rate and fixed banks show periodic vanishing of a few migrating bars at a time, occurring at regular spacing. Under constant flow rates, migrating bars appear as a transition phenomenon of alluvial channels having a cyclic character. These observations, however, might hold only for certain morphodynamics conditions, which should be further investigated.

Effects of smoothing and regridding in numerical meander migration models

Meander migration models include an as yet poorly investigated source of numerical errors related to the computation of the channel curvature, which are amplified by the procedure of adding and deleting grid points as the river planform evolves. The methods adopted to reduce these errors may influence size, form, and migration rate of the developing meanders, which creates uncertainties in the analysis of the results, limits the model applicability, and makes it necessary to treat the bank erodibility coefficients as calibration parameters. This becomes evident from a series of computational tests performed in order to compare two different methods of error reduction in the computed local channel curvature: cubic spline interpolations versus different levels of curvature smoothing. Since the problems discussed are common to most meander migration models, the tests performed were carried out for three models of different complexity. These were derived by applying different degrees of simplification to the basic equations for water flow and sediment motion of shallow curved channels.

Experimental and numerical evidence for intrinsic nonmigrating bars in alluvial channels

Alternate bars in straight alluvial channels are migrating or nonmigrating. The currently accepted view is that they are nonmigrating if the width-to-depth ratio is at the value of resonance or if the bars are forced by a persistent local perturbation. We carried out 2-D numerical computations and a long-duration mobile-bed flume experiment to investigate this view. We find that nonmigrating bars can also occur in straight channels without resonant width-to-depth ratio or steady local perturbation. They appear to be an intrinsic response of the alluvial river bed. This finding bears on explanations for meandering of alluvial rivers, for which nonmigrating bars are seen as a prerequisite. We find, however, that the intrinsic tendency of a straight channel to form meanders usually has a different origin. The identified intrinsic nonmigrating bars can only become the dominant mechanism for incipient meandering if the erodibility of the banks is very low.

Flume experiments on entrainment of large wood in low-land rivers

ABSTRACT Floating wood is increasingly recognized as a source of hazard during flood events, because of its potential to clog bridges and hydraulic structures. However, wood entrainment by water is not well understood and only few studies addressing this issue are published. This paper reports on laboratory tests that were performed in a straight flume with fixed bed on logs with different shapes, orientations and densities. The logs oriented parallel to the water flow moved by sliding at undisturbed water depths larger than their buoyant depths, which was due to significant lowering of the water level around the log. Our analyses demonstrate that the entrainment condition cannot be simply defined as a balance between bed friction and drag force. Instead, the flow around the logs should be taken into account, with inclusion of acceleration and streamline curvature. For reliable predictions more experimental data are needed, including the effects of a mobile bed.

Impact of flow variability and sediment characteristics on channel width evolution in laboratory streams

ABSTRACT Alluvial rivers are shaped by sequences of water flows excavating their channels. Observations show that besides the magnitude, the frequency and duration of streamflow oscillations might also be important for the river channel formation. In addition, the river morphology appears influenced by both size and degree of uniformity of the sediment. Nevertheless, many morphodynamic studies still represent the flow regime with a single value of the discharge, often corresponding to the bankfull condition, and the sediment with its median grain size. This work investigates the effects of streamflow variability and sediment characteristics on channel width formation, analysing the evolution of experimental streams with different sediments and discharge hydrographs. Results show that the formative condition of the channel width is not the geometric bankfull flow but a rather frequent peak flow. Remarkably different channel configurations arise from different sediment characteristics in the laboratory, where sediment non-uniformity produces more stable banks.

Effects of riparian vegetation development in a restored lowland stream

This paper presents the morphodynamic effects of riparian vegetation growth in a lowland restored stream. Hydrological series, high-resolution bathymetric data and aerial photographs are combined in the study. The vegetation root system was found to assert a strong control on soil stabilization, even during the winter season when plants are dead or degraded. Seasonal variations in plant biomass appear important only during the first stages of establishment, when vegetation has a low density and, more importantly, a root system that is not fully developed yet.

Morphodynamic effects of riparian vegetation growth after stream restoration: Morphodynamic effects of riparian vegetation growth after restoration

The prediction of the morphological evolution of renaturalized streams is important for the success of restoration projects. Riparian vegetation is a key component of the riverine landscape and is therefore essential for the natural rehabilitation of rivers. This complicates the design of morphological interventions, since riparian vegetation is influenced by and influences the river dynamics. Morphodynamic models, useful tools for project planning, should therefore include the interaction between vegetation, water flow and sediment processes. Most restoration projects are carried out in USA and Europe, where rivers are highly intervened and where the climate is temperate and vegetation shows a clear seasonal cycle. Taking into account seasonal variations might therefore be relevant for the prediction of the river morphological adaptation. This study investigates the morphodynamic effects of riparian vegetation on a re-meandered lowland stream in the Netherlands, the Lunterse Beek. The work includes the analysis of field data covering 5years and numerical modelling. The results allow assessment of the performance of a modelling tool in predicting the morphological evolution of the stream and the relevance of including the seasonal variations of vegetation in the computations. After the establishment of herbaceous plants on its banks, the Lunterse Beek did not show any further changes in channel alignment. This is here attributed to the stabilizing effects of plant roots together with the small size of the stream. It is expected that the morphological restoration of similarly small streams may result in important initial morphological adaptation followed by negligible changes after full vegetation establishment.

Transboundary sediment transfer from source to sink using a mineralogical analysis. Case study : Roseires Reservoir, Blue Nile, Sudan

ABSTRACT Sediment accumulation hampers optimal water resources management of reservoirs. In the Roseires Reservoir across the Blue Nile River, in Sudan, about 30% of the storage capacity has been lost by sedimentation before dam heightening (2012), despite regular sediment sluicing and flushing. At the same time, increasing soil erosion in the upper river basin in Ethiopia is significantly reducing land productivity.