Modelling the effect of form and profile adjustments on channel equilibrium timescales

A model for describing river channel profile adjustments through time is developed and applied to a river responding to base-level lowering in order to examine the effect of channel widening and downstream aggradation on equilibrium timescales. Across a range of boundary conditions, downstream aggradation controlled how quickly a channel reached equilibrium. Channel widening either increased or decreased the equilibrium timescale, depending on whether or not sediment derived from widening was deposited downstream. Results suggest that profile adjustments are more important than channel width adjustments in controlling equilibrium timescales for a channel responding to base-level lowering. © 2003 John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.

Duke Scholars

Author Martin Doyle Environmental Sciences and Policy