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Lecture - 11 - Channel Form, Braided Streams

Braided streams are characterized by (1) a sinuosity less than 1.5 resulting in a straight or divided channel, (2) more than one bar form per meander, and (3) the transport of a high percentage of coarse bedload material. Common features include longitudinal, linguoid, and lateral bar forms that divide and rejoin the channel. Overall, braided streams form sandy deposits with few fine-grained layers in a high-energy environment dominated by episodic high flows.

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77 views

Lecture - 11 - Channel Form, Braided Streams

Braided streams are characterized by (1) a sinuosity less than 1.5 resulting in a straight or divided channel, (2) more than one bar form per meander, and (3) the transport of a high percentage of coarse bedload material. Common features include longitudinal, linguoid, and lateral bar forms that divide and rejoin the channel. Overall, braided streams form sandy deposits with few fine-grained layers in a high-energy environment dominated by episodic high flows.

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Aronjames
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Geology 103

Lecture #11

Channel configuration, Braided streams


Reading: Boggs, 5th edition, pp. 215-220

- Last time: We talked about alluvial fans


- Today: We will look at bar forms and one type of fluvial deposits: braided streams
- Next time: we will compare braided and meandering streams, discuss anastomosing streams
I) Channel characteristics of braided vs. meandering streams:
Streams are classified (named) based on channel form, sinuosity and braiding
A) Channel form:
- Channels are straight, braided or meandering:
See Figure 372 from Reineck and Singh, p. 259
- Shows map-view examples of each channel type
B) Sinuosity:
- Is defined as ratio of channel length to down-valley distance
Draw picture on board
- Sinuosity is
low (<1.5): produces straight or braided streams
high (>1.5): produces meandering or anastomosing streams
C) Braiding parameter
- Refers to number of bar forms / meander wavelength
See Figure 3.71 from Reineck and Singh, 1986
- Generally:
- Braided streams have > 1 bar form per meander
- Meandering streams have < 1 bar form per meander
- We will only deal with meandering and braided streams in detail
- Should be aware that combinations of bedforms and channel forms exist
(although they are less common)
See Table 22 from Reineck and Singh, p. 259
II) Braided streams:
A) General characteristics:

- Sinuosity < 1.5


- Channel divides and rejoins frequently
- > 1 bar per meander
- Flow may be less consistent (more episodic)
- Also called a bedload stream: has a high percentage of material
transported as bedload rather than suspended load (coarse grain sizes:
gravel to sand, minor clay)
See Figure 1 from Miall (1978) Fluvial sedimentology, p. 600
See Figure 8.10a from Boggs, 4th edition, p. 255
http://www.uoregon.edu/~millerm/braided.html
- High gradient
See Figure 370 from Reineck and Singh (1986) Depositional Sedimentary Environments, p.
258
- Longitudinal bars (see below)
See Figure http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/10z.html
- Sandy, non-cohesive bank material
- Little floodplain material (channel deposits dominate)
See Figure 7-11 from Davis (1992) Depositional systems, p. 218
- Fluvial architecture: channel deposits are preserved in the rock or sediment
record
See Figure 8.11 from Boggs, 4th edition, p. 256
B) Common Bar forms:
- 3 common bar forms: Longitudinal, linguoid/transverse, lateral
See Fig. 10.7 from Boggs, 3rd edition
- This is a bit more complex than the general characteristics listed above
- Longitudinal bar forms:
- Are oriented parallel to flow
- Fine upward through the bar and fine downstream (2 directions)
- Internal structure: massive or crudely bedded
http://faculty.gg.uwyo.edu/heller/Sed%20Strat%20Class/Sedstrat4/slideshow_4_7.htm
- Transverse bars:
- Oriented transverse (at an angle) to the current
2

- Usually build out from the side


- Lateral bars:
- Form in lower energy conditions
- Build out from the bank (attached to bank)
- Paleocurrents often diverge (flow around bars)
See Figure 10.9 from Boggs, p. 312 3rd edition
D) Summary:
- General pattern:
- Leave large, sheet-like coarse deposits
- Rare, discontinous clay drapes
- Deposited by episodic high flow conditions

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