Self‐constraining of low‐energy rivers explains low channel mobility and tortuous planforms
Abstract Meandering rivers are abundant on Earth, from the largest rivers to the smallest tributaries. The classical view of meandering rivers is a sinuous planform with rounded bends, which grow and migrate until they are cut‐off. However, many low‐energy meandering rivers have planforms that are m...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2020-09-01
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| Series: | The Depositional Record |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/dep2.112 |
| _version_ | 1818575700363313152 |
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| author | Jasper H. J. Candel Bart Makaske Niels Kijm Maarten G. Kleinhans Joep E. A. Storms Jakob Wallinga |
| author_facet | Jasper H. J. Candel Bart Makaske Niels Kijm Maarten G. Kleinhans Joep E. A. Storms Jakob Wallinga |
| author_sort | Jasper H. J. Candel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Meandering rivers are abundant on Earth, from the largest rivers to the smallest tributaries. The classical view of meandering rivers is a sinuous planform with rounded bends, which grow and migrate until they are cut‐off. However, many low‐energy meandering rivers have planforms that are much more complex than this classical view due to the heterogeneity of their alluvium, and show relatively limited channel migration. Based on a detailed palaeogeographic study of the Dommel River in The Netherlands, it is inferred that low‐energy meandering rivers may develop tortuous planforms with sharp bends, owing to self‐formed deposits that increasingly constrain the channel mobility. This mechanism is corroborated by data from 47 meandering river reaches of varied scale from around the world, which show that erosion‐resistant floodplain deposits are preserved in the river banks when the river energy is below a critical threshold. The term ‘self‐constraining’ is proposed for low‐energy rivers where an increase in bank stability over time results in progressive tortuous planforms and reduced mobility. A conceptual model, based on the dataset, shows that the increase in bank stability over time also increases the energy required to break out of the tendency to self‐constrain. Self‐constraining thereby enhances the resilience of the system to bank erosion, while an unexpected increase in bank erosion may occur if river energy exceeds the critical threshold. This study provides a novel explanation for the evolution of low‐energy river planforms and dynamics, and provides new insights on their responses to climate changes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-15T00:44:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-36ae782b76104d859307e3087a69a57a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-4877 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-15T00:44:29Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Depositional Record |
| spelling | doaj.art-36ae782b76104d859307e3087a69a57a2022-12-21T22:41:35ZengWileyThe Depositional Record2055-48772020-09-016364866910.1002/dep2.112Self‐constraining of low‐energy rivers explains low channel mobility and tortuous planformsJasper H. J. Candel0Bart Makaske1Niels Kijm2Maarten G. Kleinhans3Joep E. A. Storms4Jakob Wallinga5Soil Geography and Landscape Group Wageningen University and Research Wageningen The NetherlandsSoil Geography and Landscape Group Wageningen University and Research Wageningen The NetherlandsSoil Geography and Landscape Group Wageningen University and Research Wageningen The NetherlandsDepartment of Physical Geography Faculty of Geosciences Utrecht University Utrecht The NetherlandsFaculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences Delft University of Technology Delft The NetherlandsSoil Geography and Landscape Group Wageningen University and Research Wageningen The NetherlandsAbstract Meandering rivers are abundant on Earth, from the largest rivers to the smallest tributaries. The classical view of meandering rivers is a sinuous planform with rounded bends, which grow and migrate until they are cut‐off. However, many low‐energy meandering rivers have planforms that are much more complex than this classical view due to the heterogeneity of their alluvium, and show relatively limited channel migration. Based on a detailed palaeogeographic study of the Dommel River in The Netherlands, it is inferred that low‐energy meandering rivers may develop tortuous planforms with sharp bends, owing to self‐formed deposits that increasingly constrain the channel mobility. This mechanism is corroborated by data from 47 meandering river reaches of varied scale from around the world, which show that erosion‐resistant floodplain deposits are preserved in the river banks when the river energy is below a critical threshold. The term ‘self‐constraining’ is proposed for low‐energy rivers where an increase in bank stability over time results in progressive tortuous planforms and reduced mobility. A conceptual model, based on the dataset, shows that the increase in bank stability over time also increases the energy required to break out of the tendency to self‐constrain. Self‐constraining thereby enhances the resilience of the system to bank erosion, while an unexpected increase in bank erosion may occur if river energy exceeds the critical threshold. This study provides a novel explanation for the evolution of low‐energy river planforms and dynamics, and provides new insights on their responses to climate changes.https://doi.org/10.1002/dep2.112fluvial morphologyheterogeneous floodplain architectureHoloceneriver channel planform |
| spellingShingle | Jasper H. J. Candel Bart Makaske Niels Kijm Maarten G. Kleinhans Joep E. A. Storms Jakob Wallinga Self‐constraining of low‐energy rivers explains low channel mobility and tortuous planforms The Depositional Record fluvial morphology heterogeneous floodplain architecture Holocene river channel planform |
| title | Self‐constraining of low‐energy rivers explains low channel mobility and tortuous planforms |
| title_full | Self‐constraining of low‐energy rivers explains low channel mobility and tortuous planforms |
| title_fullStr | Self‐constraining of low‐energy rivers explains low channel mobility and tortuous planforms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Self‐constraining of low‐energy rivers explains low channel mobility and tortuous planforms |
| title_short | Self‐constraining of low‐energy rivers explains low channel mobility and tortuous planforms |
| title_sort | self constraining of low energy rivers explains low channel mobility and tortuous planforms |
| topic | fluvial morphology heterogeneous floodplain architecture Holocene river channel planform |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/dep2.112 |
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