Coupling between downstream variations of channel width and local pool–riffle bed topography

Chartrand, Shawn M.; Jellinek, A. Mark; Hassan, Marwan A.; Ferrer-Boix, Carles

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-1-2023

Articles | Volume 11, issue 1

https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-1-2023

© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-1-2023

© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 11, issue 1

Research article

|

04 Jan 2023

Research article |

| 04 Jan 2023

Coupling between downstream variations of channel width and local pool–riffle bed topography

Shawn M. Chartrand, A. Mark Jellinek, Marwan A. Hassan, and Carles Ferrer-Boix

Data sets

Experimental data set for coupling between downstream variations of channel width and local pool-riffle bed topography S. Chartrand, M. Jellinek, M. Hassan, and C. Ferrer-Boix https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.20152235.v1

Video supplement

Experimental data set for coupling between downstream variations of channel width and local pool-riffle bed topography S. Chartrand, M. Jellinek, M. Hassan, and C. Ferrer-Boix https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.20152235.v1

Short summary

Rivers with alternating patterns of shallow and deep flows are commonly observed where a river widens and then narrows, respectively. But what if width changes over time? We use a lab experiment to address this question and find it is possible to decrease and then increase river width at a specific location and observe that flows deepen and then shallow consistent with expectations. Our observations can inform river restoration and climate adaptation programs that emphasize river corridors.