Author(s): Hannah Schwedhelm; Hannah Schmid; Antonia Dallmeier; Nils Ruther

Linked Author(s): Nils Rüther

Keywords: Braiding; Hydromorphology; Numerical modelling; Central Asia; OpenTELEMAC

Abstract: Modelling braided rivers is still challenging due to difficulties in data collection and simplifications in the models. We present a two-stage approach for numerically simulating braiding behaviour using spatially limited data to assess the morphodynamics of a braided river stretch in Kyrgyzstan. In this approach, two numerical models are set up: the first is used to calibrate hydraulic and morphodynamic processes based on available measurements, while the second is used to simulate the braiding behaviour on a larger scale. This approach enables model optimisation at a small scale and then transfers model parameters to a larger scale, which is more suited to evaluate morphodynamic processes such as the expected frequency and magnitude of riverbed changes.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64697/iahr.proc.ise2026.abs.217

Year: 2026