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Flow variability and the bankfull depth of sand‐bed streams of the American midwest
Author(s) -
Pizzuto James E.
Publication year - 1986
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/esp.3290110409
Subject(s) - streams , hydrology (agriculture) , floodplain , geology , flow (mathematics) , sediment , channel (broadcasting) , temperate climate , accretion (finance) , environmental science , geomorphology , geotechnical engineering , geography , ecology , computer network , physics , geometry , cartography , mathematics , engineering , computer science , astrophysics , electrical engineering , biology
The bankfull depths of 15 midwestern sand‐bed streams increase with increasing variability of flow. Depths are also well represented by a simple one‐dimensional model of vertical floodplain accretion. Thus, the correlation between depth and flow variability may be explained by the ability of deep, sediment‐laden flows to construct high floodplains. Bankfull depths are also strongly correlated with the average annual maximum flow. Apparently, the average annual maximum flow adequately represents the cumulative influence of varying flows on rivers studied here. These observations further validate the concept of a dominant channel‐forming discharge of moderate return frequency in humid temperate climates.