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.
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.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Coupling between downstream variations of channel width and local pool–riffle bed topography
Shawn M. Chartrand
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
School of Environmental Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
A. Mark Jellinek
Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Marwan A. Hassan
Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Carles Ferrer-Boix
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
Related authors
Cansu Culha, Sarah Godsey, Shawn Chartrand, Melissa Lafreniere, James McNamara, and James Kirchner
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4275, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4275, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS).
Short summary
Short summary
We study how Arctic rivers respond to rainfall in a warming climate. We show that runoff response can increase more than 5x under wetter conditions, and Active Layer Detachments amplify water and material runoff response to rainfall. Increasing subsurface storage can reduce runoff sensitivity to rainfall. Our results inform the flashiness of rainfall-runoff predictions based on expected weather and erosion conditions.
Shannon M. Hibbard, Gordon R. Osinski, Etienne Godin, Chimira Andres, Antero Kukko, Shawn Chartrand, Anna Grau Galofre, A. Mark Jellinek, and Wendy Boucher
The Cryosphere, 19, 1695–1716, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1695-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1695-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study investigates enigmatic ring forms found on Axel Heiberg Island (Umingmat Nunaat) in Nunavut, Canada. These ring forms comprised a series of ridges and troughs creating individual rings or brain-like patterns. We aim to identify how they form and assess the past climate conditions necessary for their formation. We use surface and subsurface observations and comparisons to other periglacial and glacial ring forms to infer a formation mechanism and propose a glacial origin.
Shawn M. Chartrand and David Jon Furbish
Earth Surf. Dynam. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2021-16, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2021-16, 2021
Preprint withdrawn
Short summary
Short summary
Sediment particles are transported along the bottom of rivers during floods. Descriptions of the transport process are commonly restricted to the strength of the water flow. In our research we use mathematical theory and data from laboratory experiments to explore whether sediment particles colliding with the river bed can help explain our observations of transport. We learn that particle collisions are likely an important component of the transport process and we offer thoughts for future work.
Cansu Culha, Sarah Godsey, Shawn Chartrand, Melissa Lafreniere, James McNamara, and James Kirchner
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4275, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4275, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS).
Short summary
Short summary
We study how Arctic rivers respond to rainfall in a warming climate. We show that runoff response can increase more than 5x under wetter conditions, and Active Layer Detachments amplify water and material runoff response to rainfall. Increasing subsurface storage can reduce runoff sensitivity to rainfall. Our results inform the flashiness of rainfall-runoff predictions based on expected weather and erosion conditions.
Shannon M. Hibbard, Gordon R. Osinski, Etienne Godin, Chimira Andres, Antero Kukko, Shawn Chartrand, Anna Grau Galofre, A. Mark Jellinek, and Wendy Boucher
The Cryosphere, 19, 1695–1716, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1695-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1695-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study investigates enigmatic ring forms found on Axel Heiberg Island (Umingmat Nunaat) in Nunavut, Canada. These ring forms comprised a series of ridges and troughs creating individual rings or brain-like patterns. We aim to identify how they form and assess the past climate conditions necessary for their formation. We use surface and subsurface observations and comparisons to other periglacial and glacial ring forms to infer a formation mechanism and propose a glacial origin.
Chendi Zhang, Yuncheng Xu, Marwan A. Hassan, Mengzhen Xu, and Pukang He
Earth Surf. Dynam., 10, 1253–1272, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-1253-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-1253-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Step-pool morphology is common in mountain streams. The geomorphic processes of step-pool features closely interact with hydraulic properties, which have limited access due to measurement difficulties. We established a combined approach using both physical experiments and numerical simulations to acquire detailed three-dimensional hydraulics for step-pool morphology, which improves the understanding of the links between hydraulics and morphology for a step-pool feature.
J. Kevin Pierce, Marwan A. Hassan, and Rui M. L. Ferreira
Earth Surf. Dynam., 10, 817–832, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-817-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-817-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We describe the flow of sediment in river channels by replacing the complicated details of the turbulent water with probability arguments. Our major conclusions are that (1) sediment transport can be phrased in terms of the movements of individual sediment grains, (2) transport rates in river channels are inherently uncertain, and (3) sediment transport in rivers is directly analogous to a number of phenomena which we understand relatively well, such as molecules moving in air.
Xingyu Chen, Marwan A. Hassan, and Xudong Fu
Earth Surf. Dynam., 10, 349–366, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-349-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-349-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We compiled a large image dataset containing more than 125 000 sediments and developed a model (GrainID) based on convolutional neural networks to measure individual grain size from images. The model was calibrated on flume and natural stream images covering a wide range of fluvial environments. The model showed high performance compared with other methods. Our model showed great potential for grain size measurements from a small patch of sediment in a flume to a watershed-scale drone survey.
Chenge An, Marwan A. Hassan, Carles Ferrer-Boix, and Xudong Fu
Earth Surf. Dynam., 9, 333–350, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-333-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-333-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Mountain rivers are characterized by fluctuations of water flow, including both flood and inter-flood low flow. Recently, increasing attention has been paid to how inter-flood low flow affects the sediment transport in subsequent floods. Here we present a series of flume experiments. Results show that the existence of inter-flood low flow can reduce the sediment transport at the beginning of the subsequent flood. However, such an effect is gradually erased with the increase of flow intensity.
Shawn M. Chartrand and David Jon Furbish
Earth Surf. Dynam. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2021-16, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2021-16, 2021
Preprint withdrawn
Short summary
Short summary
Sediment particles are transported along the bottom of rivers during floods. Descriptions of the transport process are commonly restricted to the strength of the water flow. In our research we use mathematical theory and data from laboratory experiments to explore whether sediment particles colliding with the river bed can help explain our observations of transport. We learn that particle collisions are likely an important component of the transport process and we offer thoughts for future work.
Juan P. Martín-Vide, Arnau Prats-Puntí, and Carles Ferrer-Boix
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 3315–3331, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-20-3315-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-20-3315-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
An alluvial Mediterranean river changed its riverine and deltaic landscape. The delta has been heavily retreating (up to 800 m) for more than a century. We focus on the river, channelized in the last 50 years, trying to link its sandy sediment yield to the delta evolution. Sediment availability in the last 30 km of the river channel is deemed responsible for the decrease in the sediment yield to the delta. Sediment supply reduction to the coast jeopardizes the future of the delta and beaches.
Carina Helm, Marwan A. Hassan, and David Reid
Earth Surf. Dynam., 8, 913–929, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-913-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-913-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Forested, gravel-bed streams possess complex channel morphologies which are difficult to objectively characterize. This paper describes a novel technique using a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) to characterize these systems below the forest canopy. The results demonstrate the accuracy and coverage of RPAs for objectively characterizing and classifying these systems relative to more traditional, time-consuming techniques that are generally used in these environments.
Matteo Saletti and Marwan A. Hassan
Earth Surf. Dynam., 8, 855–868, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-855-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-855-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Mountain streams often display a stepped morphology but the conditions under which these steps form, remain stable, and eventually collapse are still not entirely clear. We run flume experiments to study how (a) the amount of sediment input and (b) channel width variations affect step dynamics in steep channels. Steps form preferentially in areas of flow convergence (channel narrowing) and their frequency is higher when sediment supply is larger than zero but smaller than the transport capacity.
Cited articles
Bolla Pittaluga, M., Luchi, R., and Seminara, G.: On the equilibrium profile of river beds, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth, 119, 317–332, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013JF002806, 2014. a, b, c, d
Brew, A., Morgan, J., and Nelson, P.: Bankfull width controls on riffle-pool morphology under conditions of increased sediment supply: Field observations during the Elwha River dam removal project, in: 3rd Joint
Federal Interagency Conference on Sedimentation and Hydrologic
Modeling, 19–23 April 2015, Reno, NV, USA, p. 11, 2015. a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k
Byrne, C. F., Pasternack, G. B., Guillon, H., Lane, B. A., and Sandoval-Solis, S.: Channel Constriction Predicts Pool-Riffle Velocity Reversals Across Landscapes, Geophys. Res. Lett., 48, e2021GL094378, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL094378, 2021. a, b
Carling, P.: An appraisal of the velocity-reversal hypothesis for stable
pool-riffle sequences in the river Severn, England, Earth Surf. Proc. Land., 16, 19–31, https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3290160104, 1991. a
Carling, P. and Orr, H.: Morphology of riffle-pool sequences in the River
Severn, England, Earth Surf. Proc. Land., 25, 369–384,
https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1096-9837(200004)25:4<369::AID-ESP60>3.0.CO;2-M,
2000. a, b
Carling, P. and Wood, N.: Simulation of flow over pool-riffle topography: A
consideration of the velocity reversal hypothesis, Earth Surf. Proc. Land., 19, 319–332, https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3290190404, 1994. a, b
Chartrand, S. M.: Environmental Planning of River Corridors Considering Climate Change: A Brief Perspective, in: Recent Trends in River Corridor Management, edited by: Chembolu, V. and Dutta, S., Springer Nature Singapore, Singapore, 27–38, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9933-7_2, 2022. a
Chartrand, S. M., Jellinek, A. M., Hassan, M. A., and Ferrer-Boix, C.:
Experimental data set for morphodyanmics of a width-variable gravel-bed
stream: new insights on pool-riffle formation, Mendeley Data [data set],
https://doi.org/10.17632/zmjvt32gj3.3, 2017. a
Chartrand, S. M., Jellinek, A. M., Hassan, M. A., and Ferrer-Boix, C.:
Morphodynamics of a Width-Variable Gravel Bed Stream: New
Insights on Pool-Riffle Formation From Physical Experiments,
J. Geophys. Res.-Earth, 123, 2735–2766,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2017JF004533, 2018. a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, s, t, u, v, w
Chartrand, S. M., Jellinek, A. M., Hassan, M. A., and Ferrer-Boix, C.: What
controls the disequilibrium state of gravel-bed rivers?, Earth Surf. Proc. Land., 44, 3020–3041, https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4695, 2019. a, b, c
Church, M.: Bed material transport and the morphology of alluvial river
channels, Annu. Rev. Earth Pl. Sc., 34, 325–354,
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.earth.33.092203.122721, 2006. a
Clifford, N. J.: Formation of riffle–pool sequences: field evidence for an
autogenetic process, Sediment. Geol., 85, 39–51, 1993. a
Cui, Y., Parker, G., Braudrick, C., Dietrich, W. E., and Cluer, B.: Dam
Removal Express Assessment Models (DREAM), J. Hydraul. Res., 44, 291–307, https://doi.org/10.1080/00221686.2006.9521683, 2006. a
de Almeida, G. A. M. and Rodríguez, J. F.: Understanding pool-riffle dynamics
through continuous morphological simulations, Water Resour. Res., 47,
W01502, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010WR009170, 2011. a, b, c
De Rego, K., Lauer, J. W., Eaton, B., and Hassan, M.: A decadal-scale numerical model for wandering, cobble-bedded rivers subject to disturbance, Earth Surf. Proc. Land., 45, 912–927, https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4784, 2020. a, b
Dolan, R., Howard, A., and Trimble, D.: Structural control of the rapids and
pools of the colorado river in the grand canyon, Science, 202, 629–631, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.202.4368.629, 1978. a, b
East, A. E. and Sankey, J. B.: Geomorphic and Sedimentary Effects of
Modern Climate Change: Current and Anticipated Future
Conditions in the Western United States, Rev. Geophys., 58,
e2019RG000692, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019RG000692, 2020. a
East, A. E., Pess, G. R., Bountry, J. A., Magirl, C. S., Ritchie, A. C., Logan, J. B., Randle, T. J., Mastin, M. C., Minear, J. T., Duda, J. J., Liermann, M. C., McHenry, M. L., Beechie, T. J., and Shafroth, P. B.: Large-scale dam removal on the Elwha River, Washington, USA: River channel and floodplain geomorphic change, Geomorphology, 228, 765–786,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2014.08.028, 2015. a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h
Ferrer-Boix, C. and Hassan, M. A.: Influence of the sediment supply texture on morphological adjustments in gravel-bed rivers, Water Resour. Res., 50, 8868–8890, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013WR015117, 2014. a
Ferrer-Boix, C., Chartrand, S. M., Hassan, M. A., Martin-Vide, J. P., Parker, G., Martín-Vide, J. P., and Parker, G.: On how spatial variations of channel
width influence river profile curvature, Geophys. Res. Lett., 43,
6313–6323, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL069824, 2016. a
Frey, P., Ducottet, C., and Jay, J.: Fluctuations of bed load solid discharge and grain size distribution on steep slopes with image analysis, Journal of Experimental Fluids, 35, 589–597, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-003-0707-9, 2003. a
Furbish, D. J. and Doane, T. H.: Rarefied particle motions on hillslopes – Part 4: Philosophy, Earth Surf. Dynam., 9, 629–664, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-629-2021, 2021. a
Gartner, J. D., Magilligan, F. J., and Renshaw, C. E.: Predicting the type,
location and magnitude of geomorphic responses to dam removal: Role of
hydrologic and geomorphic constraints, Geomorphology, 251, 20–30,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2015.02.023, 2015. a
Harrison, L. R., East, A. E., Smith, D. P., Logan, J. B., Bond, R. M., Nicol,
C. L., Williams, T. H., Boughton, D. A., Chow, K., and Luna, L.: River
response to large-dam removal in a Mediterranean hydroclimatic setting:
Carmel River, California, USA, Earth Surf. Proc. Land.,
43, 3009–3021, https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4464, 2018. a
Hassan, M. A., Bird, S., Reid, D., Ferrer-Boix, C., Hogan, D., Brardinoni, F., and Chartrand, S.: Variable hillslope-channel coupling and channel
characteristics of forested mountain streams in glaciated landscapes, Earth
Surf. Proc. Land., 44, 736–751, https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4527, 2019. a
Hassan, M. A., Radić, V., Buckrell, E., Chartrand, S. M., and McDowell, C.:
Pool-Riffle Adjustment Due to Changes in Flow and Sediment
Supply, Water Resour. Res., 57, e2020WR028048,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2020WR028048, 2021. a
Hassan, M. A., Chartrand, S. M., Radić, V., Ferrer-Boix, C., Buckrell, E., and McDowell, C.: Experiments on the Sediment Transport Along Pool-Riffle Unit, Water Resour. Res., 58, e2022WR032796, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022WR032796, 2022. a
Hirano, M.: River-bed degradation with armoring, Proceedings of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers, 1971, 55–65, 1971. a
Leopold, L. B., Wolman, M. G., and Miller, J. P.: Fluvial Processes in
Geomorphology, WH Freeman, San Francisco, 522 pp., ISBN 0486685888, 1964. a
Lisle, T. E.: Stabilization of a gravel channel by large streamside
obstructions and bedrock bends, Jacoby Creek, northwestern
California, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 97, 999–1011, 1986. a
Lisle, T. E. and Hilton, S.: Fine bed material in pools of natural gravel bed
channels, Water Resour. Res., 35, 1291–1304, https://doi.org/10.1029/1998WR900088, 1999. a
MacVicar, B. J. and Roy, A. G.: Hydrodynamics of a forced riffle pool in a
gravel bed river: 1. Mean velocity and turbulence intensity, Water
Resour. Res., 43, W12401, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006WR005272, 2007. a
MacWilliams, M. L., Wheaton, J. M., Pasternack, G. B., Street, R. L., and
Kitanidis, P. K.: Flow convergence routing hypothesis for pool-riffle
maintenance in alluvial rivers, Water Resour. Res., 42,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2005WR004391, 2006. a, b, c, d
Magilligan, F., Graber, B., Nislow, K., Chipman, J., Sneddon, C., and Fox, C.: River restoration by dam removal: Enhancing connectivity at watershed
scales, Elem. Sci. Anthro., 4, 000108, https://doi.org/10.12952/journal.elementa.000108, 2016. a
Morgan, J. A.: The effects of sediment supply, width variations, and unsteady
flow on riffle-pool dynamics, PhD thesis, Colorado State University, https://hdl.handle.net/10217/189320 (last access: 15 December 2022), 2018. a
Parker, G.: 1D sediment transport morphodynamics with applications to rivers and turbidity currents, e-book edn., http://hydrolab.illinois.edu/people/parkerg/morphodynamics_e-book.htm (last access: 15 December 2022), 2007. a
Parker, G.: Transport of gravel and sediment mixtures, in: Sedimentation
Engineering: Theory, Measurements, Modeling and Practice (ASCE
Manuals and Reports on Engineering Practice No. 110), edited by:
Garcia, M., ASCE, Reston, VA, 165–251, https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784408148, 2008. a
Repetto, R., Tubino, M., and Paola, C.: Planimetric instability of channels
with variable width, J. Fluid Mech., 457, 79–109,
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022112001007595, 2002. a
Sawyer, A. M., Pasternack, G. B., Moir, H. J., and Fulton, A. a.: Riffle-pool
maintenance and flow convergence routing observed on a large gravel-bed
river, Geomorphology, 114, 143–160, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2009.06.021, 2010. a
Sear, D.: Sediment transport processes in pool-riffle sequences, Earth Surf.
Proc. Land., 21, 241–262,
https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1096-9837(199603)21:3<241::AID-ESP623>3.0.CO;2-1, 1996. a
Thompson, D., Nelson, J. M., and Wohl, E.: Interactions between pool geometry
and hydraulics, Water Resour. Res., 34, 3673–3681,
https://doi.org/10.1029/1998WR900004, 1998. a, b
Thompson, D. M. and McCarrick, C. R.: A flume experiment on the effect of constriction shape on the formation of forced pools, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 14, 1321–1330, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-1321-2010, 2010.
a
Vahidi, E., Rodríguez, J. F., Bayne, E., and Saco, P. M.: One flood is not
enough: pool-riffle self-maintenance under time-varying flows and
non-equilibrium multi-fractional sediment transport, Water Resour. Res., 56, e2019WR026818, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019WR026818, 2020. a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j
White, J. Q., Pasternack, G. B., and Moir, H. J.: Valley width variation
influences riffle-pool location and persistence on a rapidly incising
gravel-bed river, Geomorphology, 121, 206–221,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2010.04.012, 2010. a, b
Whiting, P. J. and Bradley, J. B.: A process-based classification system for
headwater streams, Earth Surf. Proc. Land., 18, 603–612,
https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3290180704, 1993. a
Wolman, M. G.: The natural channel of Brandywine creek, Pennsylvania,
United States Geological Survey Professional Paper 271, 63–63, https://doi.org/10.3133/pp271, 1955. a, b, c
Wyrick, J., Senter, A., and Pasternack, G.: Revealing the natural complexity of fluvial morphology through 2D hydrodynamic delineation of river landforms, Geomorphology, 210, 14–22, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2013.12.013, 2014. a
Yalin, M.: On the formation of dunes and meanders, in: Proceedings of the 14th Congress of the International Association for Hydraulic Research, IAHR, Paris, France, C101–108, 1971. a
Zimmermann, A. E., Church, M., and Hassan, M. A.: Video-based gravel transport measurements with a flume mounted light table, Earth Surf. Proc. Land., 33, 2285–2296, 2008. a
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.
Rivers with alternating patterns of shallow and deep flows are commonly observed where a river...