Stabilising large grains in self-forming steep channels

Booker, William H.; Eaton, Brett C.

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-51-2020

Articles | Volume 8, issue 1

https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-51-2020

© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-51-2020

© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 8, issue 1

Research article

|

28 Jan 2020

Research article |

| 28 Jan 2020

Stabilising large grains in self-forming steep channels

William H. Booker and Brett C. Eaton

Data sets

Plot data and code W. H. Booker https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3626231

Video supplement

Morphodynamics of GSD1 under low flow and sediment feed rates W. H. Booker https://doi.org/10.5446/41771

Morphodynamics of GSD1 under high flow and sediment feed rates W. H. Booker https://doi.org/10.5446/41772

Morphodynamics of GSD1 under low flow and high sediment feed rates W. H. Booker https://doi.org/10.5446/41773

Morphodynamics of GSD1 under high flow and low sediment feed rates W. H. Booker https://doi.org/10.5446/41774

Morphodynamics of GSD2 under low flow and sediment feed rates W. H. Booker https://doi.org/10.5446/41775

Morphodynamics of GSD2 under high flow and sediment feed rates W. H. Booker https://doi.org/10.5446/41776

Morphodynamics of GSD2 under low flow and high sediment feed rates W. H. Booker https://doi.org/10.5446/41778

Morphodynamics of GSD2 under high flow and low sediment feed rates W. H. Booker https://doi.org/10.5446/41777

Short summary

Using experiments, we found that the form and behaviour of a river depends on its ability to move the larger of its constituents. The manner in which all particles move depends upon the rate and calibre of the supplied material, as well as the rate of supplied water. This goes against the prevailing theory of a single important and representative grain size under depositing conditions, and these results may alter how we interpret river deposits to explain their formation.