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Evolution of mid‐channel bars in a braided river and complex response to reservoir construction: an example from the middle Hanjiang River, China
Author(s) -
Jiongxin Xu
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
earth surface processes and landforms
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.294
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1096-9837
pISSN - 0197-9337
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9837(199710)22:10<953::aid-esp789>3.0.co;2-s
Subject(s) - channel (broadcasting) , geology , erosion , silt , hydrology (agriculture) , bank erosion , point bar , sediment , geotechnical engineering , sediment transport , bar (unit) , suspended load , geomorphology , fluvial , engineering , oceanography , electrical engineering , structural basin
Using the middle Hanjiang River as an example, this paper deals with the development of mid‐channel bars in a braided river, as controlled by channel boundary conditions; runoff and sediment load, as well as reservoir construction. Relations have been established between indices describing the mid‐channel bars and the controlling variables, such as the channel width, the percentage silt‐clay content in the channel boundary and the energy expenditure of flowing water. Bank erosion provides space and material for mid‐channel bar formation, so bank erosion rate can be closely related to mid‐channel bar indices. The middle channel bars exhibit a complex evolutionary response to the reservoir‐regulated hydrological regime in the middle Hanjiang River. A descriptive model showing the complex response has been established. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.