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Analysis of controls upon channel planform at the First Great Bend of the Upper Yellow River, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

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Abstract

The 270 km long section of the Upper Yellow River at the First Great Bend is comprised of single channel and multiple channel systems that alternate among anastomosing, anabranching, meandering and braided reaches. The sequence of downstream pattern changes is characterized as: anastomosing-anabranching, anabranching-meandering, meandering-braided and braided-meandering. Remote sensing images, DEM data and field investigations are used to assess and interpret controls on these reach transitions. Channel slope and bed sediment size are key determinants of transitions in channel planform. Anastomosing reaches have a relatively high bed slope (0.86‰) and coarser sediment bed material (d 50 = 3.5 mm). In contrast, meandering reaches have a low slope (0.30‰) and fine sediment bed material (d 50 = 0.036 mm). The transition from a meandering to braided pattern is characterized by an increase in channel width-depth ratio, indicating the important role of bank strength (i.e. cohesive versus non-cohesive versus channel boundaries). Interestingly, the braided-meandering and meandering-braided transitions are coincident with variable flow inputs from tributary rivers (Baihe and Heihe rivers respectively). Theoretical analysis of the meandering-braided transition highlights the key control of channel width-depth ratio as a determinant of channel planform.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Zhiwei Li, Zhaoyin Wang & Jun Du

  2. Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute, Wuhan, 430010, China

    Baozhu Pan

  3. School of Environment, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand

    Gary Brierley & Brendon Blue

  4. Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing, 100101, China

    Guo-an Yu

Authors
  1. Zhiwei Li
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  2. Zhaoyin Wang
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  3. Baozhu Pan
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  4. Jun Du
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  5. Gary Brierley
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  6. Guo-an Yu
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  7. Brendon Blue
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhaoyin Wang.

Additional information

Foundation:International Science & Technology Cooperation Program of China, No.2011DFA20820; No.2011DFG93160; Tsinghua University, No.20121080027; National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.51209010

Author: Li Zhiwei (1984–), Ph.D Candidate, specialized in river dynamics.

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Li, Z., Wang, Z., Pan, B. et al. Analysis of controls upon channel planform at the First Great Bend of the Upper Yellow River, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. J. Geogr. Sci. 23, 833–848 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-013-1047-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-013-1047-1

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