Modification of meander migration by bank failures

Meander migration and planform evolution depend on the resistance to erosion of the floodplain materials. To date, research to quantify meandering river adjustment has largely focused on resistance to erosion properties that vary horizontally. This paper evaluates the combined effect of horizontal a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of geophysical research. Earth surface 2014-05, Vol.119 (5), p.1026-1042
Main Authors: Motta, D., Langendoen, E. J., Abad, J. D., García, M. H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bank erosion
Bank failures
Banks
computer modeling
Evolution
Failure
floodplain soil heterogeneity
Freshwater
Heterogeneity
Horizontal
meander migration
meander planform shape
Meanders
Migration
slump block protection
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Summary:Meander migration and planform evolution depend on the resistance to erosion of the floodplain materials. To date, research to quantify meandering river adjustment has largely focused on resistance to erosion properties that vary horizontally. This paper evaluates the combined effect of horizontal and vertical floodplain material heterogeneity on meander migration by simulating fluvial erosion and cantilever and planar bank mass failure processes responsible for bank retreat. The impact of stream bank failures on meander migration is conceptualized in our RVR Meander model through a bank armoring factor associated with the dynamics of slump blocks produced by cantilever and planar failures. Simulation periods smaller than the time to cutoff are considered, such that all planform complexity is caused by bank erosion processes and floodplain heterogeneity and not by cutoff dynamics. Cantilever failure continuously affects meander migration, because it is primarily controlled by the fluvial erosion at the bank toe. Hence, it impacts migration rates and meander shapes through the horizontal and vertical distribution of erodibility of floodplain materials. Planar failures are more episodic. However, in floodplain areas characterized by less cohesive materials, they can affect meander evolution in a sustained way and produce preferential migration patterns. Model results show that besides the hydrodynamics, bed morphology and horizontal floodplain heterogeneity, floodplain stratigraphy can significantly affect meander evolution, both in terms of migration rates and planform shapes. Specifically, downstream meander migration can either increase or decrease with respect to the case of a homogeneous floodplain; lateral migration generally decreases as result of bank protection due to slump blocks; and the effect on bend skewness depends on the location and volumes of failed bank material caused by cantilever and planar failures along the bends, with possible achievement of downstream bend skewness under certain conditions. Key Points Cantilever failure impacts migration through horizontal/vertical floodplain material heterogeneity Planar failure in low‐cohesion floodplain materials can affect meander evolution Stratigraphy of the floodplain materials can significantly affect meander evolution
ISSN:2169-9003
2169-9011
DOI:10.1002/2013JF002952