scholarly journals Effects of cascade reservoir systems on the longitudinal distribution of sediment characteristics: a case study of the Heihe River Basin

Author(s):  
Yu Wang ◽  
Bao-long Li ◽  
Juan-juan Liu ◽  
Qi Feng ◽  
Wei Liu ◽  
...  

AbstractSpatial variations in grain size parameters can reflect river sediment transport patterns and depositional dynamics. Therefore, 22 surficial sediment samples taken from the Heihe River and its cascade reservoirs were analyzed to better understand the impact of cascade reservoir construction on sediment transport patterns in inland rivers in China. The results showed that the longitudinal distribution of sediment grain size in the Heihe River was significantly affected by the influence of the cascade reservoirs. The retention rate in the cascade reservoir of the Heihe River reached 79% (193.53 Mt/year), which caused most of the fine sand to accumulate in the reservoir, and the sediment fining degree reached approximately 50%. However, the water discharged from the dam caused serious erosion of the riverbed and coarsening of the sediment, and the coarsening degree was approximately 500%. The backwater zone of the reservoir was influenced by both backwater and released water, and the coarsening degree of sediment was approximately 101%. Sedimentary environmental analysis revealed that the characteristics of the sediment grain size in an upstream tributary of the Heihe River were more influenced by source material than by hydrodynamic conditions, while the grain size characteristics of the mainstream sediments were controlled mainly by hydrodynamic conditions. The characteristics of sediment transport in different reaches of the Heihe River were studied, and the results may provide references for the operation of cascade reservoirs and the sediment control of reservoirs.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Wang ◽  
Bao-long Li ◽  
Juan-juan Liu ◽  
Qi Feng ◽  
Wei Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Spatial variations in grain-size parameters can reflect river sediment transport patterns and depositional dynamics. Therefore, 22 surficial sediment samples taken from the Heihe River and its cascade reservoirs were analyzed to better understand the impact of cascade reservoir construction on sediment transport patterns in inland rivers in China. The results showed that the longitudinal distribution of sediment grain size in the Heihe River was significantly affected by the influence of the cascade reservoirs. The grain size of the reservoir sediments within the cascade reservoir system was much lower than that of sediments in the natural river section, and the sediments in the natural river were well sorted, exhibiting leptokurtosis and positive or very positive skew. The lower reaches of the dammed river experienced strong erosion, and the grains of the bed sediments were coarse and poorly sorted; the grain-size distributions were more positively skewed and exhibited leptokurtosis. The backwater zone of the reservoir was influenced by both backwater and released water, and the sediment grain size was between the grain size of the natural river and that of the lower reaches of the dam; these sediments were moderately well sorted and had a positively skewed, leptokurtic grain-size distribution. Sedimentary environmental analysis revealed that the characteristics of the sediment grain size in an upstream tributary of the Heihe River were more influenced by source material than by hydrodynamic conditions, while the grain-size characteristics of the mainstream sediments were controlled mainly by hydrodynamic conditions.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuaib Rasheed ◽  
Simon C. Warder ◽  
Yves Plancherel ◽  
Matthew D. Piggott

Abstract. Changes to coastlines and bathymetry alter tidal dynamics and associated sediment transport process, impacting upon a number of threats facing coastal regions, including flood risk and erosion. Especially vulnerable are coral atolls such as those that make up the Maldives archipelago which has undergone significant land reclamation in recent years and decades, and is also particularly exposed to sea level rise. Here we develop a tidal model of Male' Atoll, Maldives, and use it to assess potential changes to sediment grain size distributions under sea level rise and coastline alteration scenarios. The results indicate that the impact of coastline modification over the last two decades at the island scale is not limited to the immediate vicinity of the modified island, but can also significantly impact the sediment grain size distribution across the wider atoll basin. Additionally, the degree of change in sediment distribution which can be associated with sea level rise that is projected to occur over relatively long time periods is predicted to occur over far shorter time periods with coastline changes, highlighting the need to better understand, predict and mitigate the impact of land reclamation and other coastal modifications before conducting such activities.


Ocean Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 319-334
Author(s):  
Shuaib Rasheed ◽  
Simon C. Warder ◽  
Yves Plancherel ◽  
Matthew D. Piggott

Abstract. Changes to coastlines and bathymetry alter tidal dynamics and associated sediment transport processes, impacting upon a number of threats facing coastal regions, including flood risk and erosion. Especially vulnerable are coral atolls such as those that make up the Maldives archipelago, which has undergone significant land reclamation in recent years and decades and is also particularly exposed to sea level rise. Here we develop a tidal model of Malé Atoll, Maldives, the first atoll-scale and multi-atoll-scale high-resolution numerical model of the atolls of the Maldives and use it to assess potential changes to sediment grain size distributions in the deeper atoll basin, under sea level rise and coastline alteration scenarios. The results indicate that the impact of coastline modification over the last two decades at the island scale is not limited to the immediate vicinity of the modified island but can also significantly impact the sediment grain size distribution across the wider atoll basin. Additionally, the degree of change in sediment distribution which can be associated with sea level rise that is projected to occur over relatively long time periods is predicted to occur over far shorter time periods with coastline changes, highlighting the need to better understand, predict and mitigate the impact of land reclamation and other coastal modifications before conducting such activities.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2S11) ◽  
pp. 3011-3015

The impact of coastal sediment transport in the nearshore region is significant and the need for improved sediment quantification techniques appears to be universally accepted. The coastal sediment transport models presently in use were derived empirically from very sparse measurements of waves and currents and from laboratory experiments. The shoreline of Kadalur fishing villages near Kalpakkam has been experiencing erosion due to occurrence of cyclones every monsoon. Palar River with its confluence in the Bay of Bengal at the northern tip of the Kadalur villages has its mouth closed due to negligible river flow. The purpose of this study is to assess sediment dynamics in the Kalpakkam coast using two independent approaches; namely Sediment Trend Analysis (STA) and two dimensional numerical modelling. The latter can track the movement of individual particles. Numerical modelling approach is based on Delft3D model which allows the coupling of flow and wave modules. STA and numerical modelling results can provide sediment transport direction. The combination of both approaches provides a means of verification of sedimentation processes. The basic assumption in STA is that sediment transport can be responsible for the differences in sediment grain size distributions. For Grain Size Trend Analysis, grab samples were collected throughout the nearshore area. Grain Size Trend Analysis was then carried out and subsequent results were plotted to obtain the sediment transport pattern for the region. The results obtained are compared with the numerical model results and also used for validation of sediment transport evaluated using the numerical model.


2014 ◽  
Vol 93 ◽  
pp. 28-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Balsinha ◽  
Carlos Fernandes ◽  
Anabela Oliveira ◽  
Aurora Rodrigues ◽  
Rui Taborda

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Septriono Hari Nugroho ◽  
Abdul Basit

<p>An integrated study of sediment distribution was conducted in Weda Bay, Northern Maluku to provide general information on transportation and deposition process based on sediment grain size distribution. The study was conducted during the Weda Bay Expedition using the “Baruna Jaya VII” research vessel in March 13<sup>th</sup> –22<sup>th</sup> 2013. Sieving method (granulometric) was used to analyze the grain size. The results indicated that in general the pattern of sea floor sediment distribution was dominated by clay – sand grain-sized. The current speed influenced the sediment transport, deposition, and distribution.  Larger fractions of sediment were quickly settled on the sea floor due to stronger currents around Southern area (Widi islands), meanwhile the lesser fractions of the transported away into other places with weaker currents conditions.</p> <p>Keywords: current, the Weda Bay expedition, granulometric, grain size, sediment distribution</p>


1994 ◽  
Vol 121 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 171-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Gao ◽  
M.B. Collins ◽  
J. Lanckneus ◽  
G. De Moor ◽  
V. Van Lancker

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 35-48
Author(s):  
Niraj Bal Tamang ◽  
Naresh Kazi Tamrakar ◽  
Milan Magar ◽  
Mahesh Raut

Areas near the rivers and streams have been widely used for settlement, development works and agriculture due to availability of the resources such as water, aggregates and comparatively easier terrain. It is very important to understand prevailing fluvial conditions for sustainable output. The fluvial conditions of the Malekhu Watershed including the river characteristics, sediment transport and sediment dynamics were studied. Ten river transects and the corresponding segments of the Malekhu Khola were surveyed for cross-sections and longitudinal profiles. Samples were collected in each of the transects and were analysed for suspended sediment concentration. The riverbed sampling was made using Wolman’s pebble count for establishing grain size distribution. Manning’s roughness coefficients were determined to estimate discharge. The study shows that the Malekhu Khola is a sixth order stream. It has been classified into A4-, B4- and C4-type streams. The hypsometric analysis of the Malekhu Watershed shows that it is in mature stage of erosion. Sediment grain size slightly increases downstream but sorting remains extremely poor to moderately poor. The Malekhu Khola shows eroding tendency at 1.2 km, 16.6 km and 20 km from the origin and brings larger particles only during high flow period at the remaining transects. Mean Suspended Sediment Concentrations (SSC) for the Malekhu Khola was 72.14 mg/L, and it increases with increasing discharge and increasing watershed area and is related to velocity of the river, mining activities and local tributaries.Bulletin of the Department of Geology, Vol. 18, 2015, pp. 35-48


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