Comparisons of morphology and flow structure at two braid-bar confluences in a large river

R. N. Szupiany, M. L. Amsler, D. R. Parsons, J. L. Best, R. Haydel

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

This paper details the morphology and flow structure (primary and secondary currents) at two separate asymmetrical bar-confluences of the Paraná River, Argentina. The two sites occur over channel reaches ~3.8 km long and were surveyed in June 2006 with a single beam echo-sounder and an acoustic Doppler profiler (aDp). The width:depth ratios (W/D) are relatively high, providing opportunity to investigate similarities and differences between small and large scale fluvial confluences.The findings highlight that transversal distributions of the flow is critical as they combine within the confluence zone, essentially controlling the position of the scour and thus the flow structures in the downstream channel. In both confluences, and similar to studies of small confluence flows, counter rotating surface convergent flows are identified. However, the spatial extent of these secondary cells is limited to a low proportion of the total channel width. Moreover the cells are rapidly dissipated in the downstream direction.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationRiver, Coastal and Estuarine Morphodynamics
Subtitle of host publicationRCEM 2007 - Proceedings of the 5th IAHR Symposium on River, Coastal and Estuarine Morphodynamics
Pages807-814
Number of pages8
StatePublished - 2008
Event5th IAHR-Symposium on River, Coastal and Estuarine Morphodynamics, RCEM 2007 - Enschede, Netherlands
Duration: Sep 17 2007Sep 21 2007

Publication series

NameRiver, Coastal and Estuarine Morphodynamics: RCEM 2007 - Proceedings of the 5th IAHR Symposium on River, Coastal and Estuarine Morphodynamics
Volume2

Other

Other5th IAHR-Symposium on River, Coastal and Estuarine Morphodynamics, RCEM 2007
Country/TerritoryNetherlands
CityEnschede
Period9/17/079/21/07

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology
  • Environmental Engineering

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