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Fluvial Geomorphology - FINAL

This document provides an overview of fluvial geomorphology. It begins by defining geomorphology and listing different subfields, including fluvial geomorphology. It then discusses fluvial geomorphological processes like erosion, sediment transport, and deposition. It also describes river features and channel patterns, including steps for classifying channels based on sensitivity. Finally, it discusses features like bars, meanders, and erosion/deposition processes on inner and outer banks.

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72 views29 pages

Fluvial Geomorphology - FINAL

This document provides an overview of fluvial geomorphology. It begins by defining geomorphology and listing different subfields, including fluvial geomorphology. It then discusses fluvial geomorphological processes like erosion, sediment transport, and deposition. It also describes river features and channel patterns, including steps for classifying channels based on sensitivity. Finally, it discusses features like bars, meanders, and erosion/deposition processes on inner and outer banks.

Uploaded by

daniela
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Fluvial Geomorphology

Maja Pepper
CONTENTS
1_ Geomorphology
2_ Fluvial Geomorphological Processes
3_ River features / Hydraulic features
4_ Conclusions
1_Geomorphology
1. Fluvial Geomorphology
2. Hillslope Geomorphology
3. Glacial Geomorphology
4. Tectonic Geomorphology
5. Quantitative Geomorphology (Civil Engineering)
6. Coastal Geomorphology
7. Desert Geomorphology
8. Biogeomorphology / Landscape Ecology
9. Karst geomorphology (karst = study of cave processes / hydrology)
2_ Geomorphological Processes
1. Rock weathering
2. Mass wasting/erosion (gravity-driven)
3. The work of running water (fluvial)
4. Groundwater activity
5. Wind action
6. Glacial Activity/Moving Ice
7. Wave action / Tide Action
8. Tectonic Process
Channel Pattern

(Church, 2006)
Fluvial Geomorphological Processes
1. EROSION
2. TRANSPORT
Equilibrium System
3. DEPOSITION
Channel estate of equilibrium

Quasi Dynamic Response to a major disturbance


(Knighton, 1998)
Connectivity and complexity in river systems

(from Naiman et al., 2006)


EROSION
Assessing whether erosion is normal or
accelerated
Some indicators of normal bank Some indicators of accelerated bank
erosion erosion

• The erosion rate is significantly greater than that


• Erosion on the outside of meander happening on comparable rivers.
bends, perhaps with bank collapse.
• A recent and sustained (for months or years) increase
in the rate of erosion.
• Some vegetation establishing itself
• On eroded faces, vegetation is no longer establishing
and / or growing on eroded faces. where it grew previously.

• Opposite banks are eroding for long sections.


• Localised scour of finer sediments at
the toe of the bank. • The channel is getting wider, or is already much wider
than adjacent reaches.
• Scour around tree roots where the • There is evidence of the channel eroding it bed
bank line has not retreated back (cutting down vertically) e.g. a lack of gravels in the
bed.
from treeline.
• Exposure of underlying clay or bedrock, or
• Evidence of historic bank collapse undermined structures (e.g. bridge foundations).
that has stabilised and re-vegetated. • Lots of sediment has accumulated in the channel at
the site of the eroded bank(s)
SEDIMENT TRANSPORT
‘Existing evidence suggests that natural sediment loadings
have been substantially exceeded in many catchments in the
UK, particularly since World War II’ (Evans, 2006).

Anthropogenic activities increasing sediment supply to watercourses include:

• Changes in agricultural practices.


• Intensification of agricultural practices.
• Increased bank erosion due to loss of natural hydrology.

Suspended Load

Bedload
SEDIMENT DEPOSITION
1. Low rainfall reducing precipitation to drought conditions
2. On reaching a base level - a river entering the sea or a lake, reducing
velocity
3. Water becoming shallower
4. When the load is suddenly increased, e.g., after a landslip
5. River overflows its banks, depositing material on the flood plain
6. Inside of a meander
7. Sudden decrease in gradient, e.g. below a waterfall
Armouring Clustering
3_ River Features / Hydraulic Features

Channel classification

(Montgomery and Buffington, 1998)


Geomorphic River Typology:
 Geomorphic types: bedrock, cascade, step-pool, plane bed, meandering, etc
 Sensitivity class: A, B, C, D, F
Sensitivity A
Bedrock Cascade
• Steep and confined, floodplain absent • Boulders, disorganised bed
• Few bars / little sediment storage • Fast flow types
Sensitivity B
Step - Pool Plane bed
• Steep. Distinct steps into pools. • Uniform bed, fairly straight
• Bars infrequent / absent
• The front of each pool is constructed • Bed armoured – hard to kick ample.
from boulders / cobbles. • Cobbles often jutting through water surface
Sensitivity C
Braided Wandering Plane - Riffle

• Multiple channels • Highly dynamic • Repeated pattern of flow types


• Bars bare or vegetated • Extensive, severe erosion (glide-riffle-glide or run-riffle-run)
• Extensive sediment • Low sinuosity and lack of bars
deposits
• Abandoned channels in
floodplain
• Irregular meanders
Sensitivity D
Low- gradient active meandering

• Sinuous
• Erosion inner bank
• Deposition outer bank (point bar)
• Well-developed floodplain
Sensitivity F
Low - gradient passive meandering

• Deep channel
• Sinuous stable planform
• Little / no erosion
• Stable vegetated banks
4_ Conclusions
Thank you

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