Coarse bedload routing and dispersion through tributary confluences
Sediment routing fundamentally influences channel morphology and the propagation of disturbances such as debris flows. The transport and storage of bedload particles across headwater channel confluences, which may be significant nodes of the channel network in terms of sediment routing, morphology,...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2016-07-01
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| Series: | Earth Surface Dynamics |
| Online Access: | http://www.earth-surf-dynam.net/4/591/2016/esurf-4-591-2016.pdf |
| _version_ | 1819154032816553984 |
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| author | K. S. Imhoff A. C. Wilcox |
| author_facet | K. S. Imhoff A. C. Wilcox |
| author_sort | K. S. Imhoff |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sediment routing fundamentally influences channel morphology and the propagation
of disturbances such as debris flows. The transport and storage of bedload
particles across headwater channel confluences, which may be significant
nodes of the channel network in terms of sediment routing, morphology, and
habitat, are poorly understood, however. We investigated patterns and
processes of sediment routing through headwater confluences by comparing
them to published results from lower-gradient confluences and by comparing
the dispersive behavior of coarse bedload particles between headwater
confluence and non-confluence reaches. We addressed these questions with a
field tracer experiment using passive-integrated transponder and
radio-frequency identification technology in the East Fork Bitterroot River
basin, Montana, USA. Within the confluence zone, tracers tended to be
deposited towards scour-hole and channel margins, suggesting narrow,
efficient transport corridors that mirror those observed in prior studies,
many of which are from finer-grained systems. Coarse particles in some
confluence reaches experienced reduced depositional probabilities within the
confluence relative to upstream and downstream of the confluence. Analysis
of particle transport data suggests that variation in the spatial
distribution of coarse-sediment particles may be enhanced by passing through
confluences, though further study is needed to evaluate confluence effects
on dispersive regimes and sediment routing on broader spatial and temporal
scales. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T15:14:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3f774e4fd81d4f429a64502f3e4a77ff |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2196-6311 2196-632X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T15:14:38Z |
| publishDate | 2016-07-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Earth Surface Dynamics |
| spelling | doaj.art-3f774e4fd81d4f429a64502f3e4a77ff2022-12-21T18:21:47ZengCopernicus PublicationsEarth Surface Dynamics2196-63112196-632X2016-07-014359160510.5194/esurf-4-591-2016Coarse bedload routing and dispersion through tributary confluencesK. S. Imhoff0A. C. Wilcox1Department of Geosciences, 32 Campus Drive #1296, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USADepartment of Geosciences, 32 Campus Drive #1296, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USASediment routing fundamentally influences channel morphology and the propagation of disturbances such as debris flows. The transport and storage of bedload particles across headwater channel confluences, which may be significant nodes of the channel network in terms of sediment routing, morphology, and habitat, are poorly understood, however. We investigated patterns and processes of sediment routing through headwater confluences by comparing them to published results from lower-gradient confluences and by comparing the dispersive behavior of coarse bedload particles between headwater confluence and non-confluence reaches. We addressed these questions with a field tracer experiment using passive-integrated transponder and radio-frequency identification technology in the East Fork Bitterroot River basin, Montana, USA. Within the confluence zone, tracers tended to be deposited towards scour-hole and channel margins, suggesting narrow, efficient transport corridors that mirror those observed in prior studies, many of which are from finer-grained systems. Coarse particles in some confluence reaches experienced reduced depositional probabilities within the confluence relative to upstream and downstream of the confluence. Analysis of particle transport data suggests that variation in the spatial distribution of coarse-sediment particles may be enhanced by passing through confluences, though further study is needed to evaluate confluence effects on dispersive regimes and sediment routing on broader spatial and temporal scales.http://www.earth-surf-dynam.net/4/591/2016/esurf-4-591-2016.pdf |
| spellingShingle | K. S. Imhoff A. C. Wilcox Coarse bedload routing and dispersion through tributary confluences Earth Surface Dynamics |
| title | Coarse bedload routing and dispersion through tributary confluences |
| title_full | Coarse bedload routing and dispersion through tributary confluences |
| title_fullStr | Coarse bedload routing and dispersion through tributary confluences |
| title_full_unstemmed | Coarse bedload routing and dispersion through tributary confluences |
| title_short | Coarse bedload routing and dispersion through tributary confluences |
| title_sort | coarse bedload routing and dispersion through tributary confluences |
| url | http://www.earth-surf-dynam.net/4/591/2016/esurf-4-591-2016.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ksimhoff coarsebedloadroutinganddispersionthroughtributaryconfluences AT acwilcox coarsebedloadroutinganddispersionthroughtributaryconfluences |