Some river characteristics dependent on sediment transport

Abstract

The characteristics and behavior of rivers depend on numerous factors which are highly variable and complex. Sediment characteritics and sediment-transport capacity of rivers are important factors that influence river characteristics. Significant amounts of ground-water inflowing to or outflowing from a river reach affect flow characteristics of that reach, which in turn alter the capability of the reach for transporting sediment and result in changed river characteristics. In addition, inflow from a tributary carrying a sediment load with the same concentration as the main stream increases the capability to transport the sediment load of the downstream reach of the confluence. A simplified mathematical model of a generalized river reach was developed to investigate how ground-water recharge and inflow to the stream and tributary inflow affect and alter river characteristics.