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The graded alluvial river: Profile concavity and downstream fining
Author(s) -
Blom Astrid,
Viparelli Enrica,
Chavarrías Víctor
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2016gl068898
Subject(s) - aggradation , alluvium , grain size , abrasion (mechanical) , geology , alluvial fan , particle size , subsidence , geomorphology , particle size distribution , hydrology (agriculture) , geotechnical engineering , fluvial , materials science , paleontology , structural basin , composite material
There has been quite some debate on the relative importance of particle abrasion and grain size selective transport regarding the river profile form and the associated grain size trends in a graded alluvial stream. Here we present new theoretical equations for the graded alluvial river profile that account for the effects of particle abrasion and grain size selective transport in the absence of subsidence, uplift, and sea level change. Under graded conditions we find that abrasion results in a mild profile concavity and downstream fining, whereas under aggradational conditions grain size selective transport can lead to large spatial changes in channel slope and bed surface mean grain size.