The graded alluvial river

Profile concavity and downstream fining

Journal article (2016)

Authors

A. Blom Rivers, Ports, Waterways and Dredging Engineering - CEG
Enrica Viparelli University of South Carolina
V. Chavarrias Borras Rivers, Ports, Waterways and Dredging Engineering - CEG
Research Group
Rivers, Ports, Waterways and Dredging Engineering (CEG) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2016 A. Blom, Enrica Viparelli, V. Chavarrias Borras
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL068898
Selective transport Downstream fining Particle abrasion Profile concavity River longitudinal profile
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Published Date

2016

Language

English

Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Department

Hydraulic Engineering

Research Group

Rivers, Ports, Waterways and Dredging Engineering

Abstract

There has been quite some debate on the relative importance of particle abrasion and grain size selective transport regarding the river profile form and the associated grain size trends in a graded alluvial stream. Here we present new theoretical equations for the graded alluvial river profile that account for the effects of particle abrasion and grain size selective transport in the absence of subsidence, uplift, and sea level change. Under graded conditions we find that abrasion results in a mild profile concavity and downstream fining, whereas under aggradational conditions grain size selective transport can lead to large spatial changes in channel slope and bed surface mean grain size.