Author(s): Till Bran; Francisco Nuez-Gonzalez; Andreas Dittrich; Jochen Aberle

Linked Author(s): Till Branß, Jochen Aberle

Keywords: No Keywords

Abstract: Natural levees can be observed worldwide in nearly all river systems characterized by frequent flooding in combination with the transport of suspended bed material. Several parameters and processes have been suggested to explain the formation and the highly variable geometry of natural levees. However, the effect of bedforms migrating in the main-channel has not been amongst the studied parameters and processes. To fill this gap, this study investigates the relationship between bedforms and natural levee formation by flume experiments. Experiments were conducted in a 2 m wide and 30 m long sediment recirculating flume, monitoring the bed level elevation in the main channel by ultrasonic sensors as well as recording the levee development on the floodplain by a camera. The effect of different bed configurations on the developed levees is compared, and discussed, showing that bedforms could enhance levee formation.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20184002018

Year: 2018