From the Mountain to the Sea: Rivers and Erosion Dr Allen Gontz Coastal Geologist & Geophysicist EEOS Dr Allen Gontz Coastal Geologist & Geophysicist EEOS

From the Mountain to the Sea:From the Mountain to the Sea:Rivers and ErosionRivers and ErosionFrom the Mountain to the Sea:From the Mountain to the Sea:Rivers and ErosionRivers and Erosion

Dr Allen GontzDr Allen GontzCoastal Geologist & GeophysicistCoastal Geologist & Geophysicist

EEOSEEOS

Dr Allen GontzDr Allen GontzCoastal Geologist & GeophysicistCoastal Geologist & Geophysicist

EEOSEEOS

EEOS 120, Fall 2009EEOS 120, Fall 20093 Nov 20093 Nov 2009

Join me as we watch the travel log of our friendsJoin me as we watch the travel log of our friendsWater and Sand Water and Sand

Today’s JourneyToday’s JourneyToday’s JourneyToday’s Journey

RiversRivers– TypesTypes– CharacteristicsCharacteristics

DeltasDeltas– FormForm– FunctionFunction

What Role Does Erosion Play?What Role Does Erosion Play?

RiversRivers– TypesTypes– CharacteristicsCharacteristics

DeltasDeltas– FormForm– FunctionFunction

What Role Does Erosion Play?What Role Does Erosion Play?

Stream HydrographStream HydrographStream HydrographStream Hydrograph

Image courtesy of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

StreamStreamRegionsRegionsStreamStream

RegionsRegions

Images removed due to copyright restrictions.

Aggradation v DegradatonAggradation v DegradatonAggradation v DegradatonAggradation v Degradaton


See image at http://www.ingeba.org/lurralde/lurranet/lur30/30soria/30soria1.gif

Figure by UMB OpenCourseWare.Figure by UMB OpenCourseWare.

Transport v. SupplyTransport v. SupplyTransport v. SupplyTransport v. Supply

Meander EvolutionMeander EvolutionMeander EvolutionMeander Evolution


River River SinuositySinuosity

River River SinuositySinuosity


Braided RiverBraided RiverSystemsSystems

Braided RiverBraided RiverSystemsSystems

Braided River, Jasper NPBraided River, Jasper NPBraided River, Jasper NPBraided River, Jasper NP


Photo by Hillebrand, Steve

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Braided_River_Outwash_Plain.jpg

Braided River Flood PlainBraided River Flood PlainBraided River Flood PlainBraided River Flood Plain


Braided FlowBraided FlowBraided FlowBraided Flow

Image courtesy of NASA

Bar Bar TypesTypes

Bar Bar TypesTypes


Meander EvolutionMeander EvolutionMeander EvolutionMeander Evolution


BraidedBraidedMorphologyMorphology

BraidedBraidedMorphologyMorphology



Straight Channel FlowStraight Channel FlowStraight Channel FlowStraight Channel Flow


Meandering RiversMeandering RiversSystemsSystems

Meandering RiversMeandering RiversSystemsSystems

MeanderingMeanderingMorphologyMorphologyMeanderingMeanderingMorphologyMorphology


Meandering Channel FlowMeandering Channel FlowMeandering Channel FlowMeandering Channel Flow


MeanderMeanderEvolutionEvolutionMeanderMeanderEvolutionEvolution

The Shape of a River

Straight

Sinuous

Meandering


Meander Flood PlainMeander Flood PlainMeander Flood PlainMeander Flood Plain


OxbowOxbowFormationFormation

OxbowOxbowFormationFormation


Mississippi MeandersMississippi MeandersMississippi MeandersMississippi Meanders


Mississippi MeandersMississippi MeandersMississippi MeandersMississippi Meanders


MeanderMeanderTypesTypes

MeanderMeanderTypesTypes


StreamStreamClassificationClassification

StreamStreamClassificationClassification

StreamCharacter

StreamCharacter

Stream Cross SectionsStream Cross SectionsStream Cross SectionsStream Cross Sections


Channel TypesChannel TypesChannel TypesChannel Types


Stream Morphology & SlopeStream Morphology & SlopeStream Morphology & SlopeStream Morphology & Slope


Control of SlopeControl of SlopeControl of SlopeControl of Slope


Rosgen ClassificationRosgen ClassificationRosgen ClassificationRosgen Classification


ErosionErosionandand

Sediment TransportSediment Transport

ErosionErosionandand

Sediment TransportSediment Transport

Sediment TransportSediment TransportSediment TransportSediment Transport

Image courtesy of USGS

Stream Bank ProcessesStream Bank ProcessesStream Bank ProcessesStream Bank Processes


Flood Plain Cross SectionFlood Plain Cross SectionFlood Plain Cross SectionFlood Plain Cross Section


Flood PlainFlood PlainEvolutionEvolution

Flood PlainFlood PlainEvolutionEvolution


Image courtesy of Karrock, under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0Image courtesy of Karrock, under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0

Hjulstrom DiagramHjulstrom DiagramHjulstrom DiagramHjulstrom Diagram

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Karrock

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Creative_Commons

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Karrock

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Creative_Commons

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

SedimentSedimentTransportTransportSedimentSedimentTransportTransport


GrainGrainSizeSize

GrainGrainSizeSize

DeltaDeltaSystemsSystems

DeltaDeltaSystemsSystems

DeltasDeltasDeltasDeltas

Definition:Definition:– An alluvial/fluvial deposit, usually triangular An alluvial/fluvial deposit, usually triangular

in shape, at the mouth of rivers, streams or in shape, at the mouth of rivers, streams or tidal inletstidal inlets

– Location were rivers discharge into large Location were rivers discharge into large bodies of standing water (lakes or oceans)bodies of standing water (lakes or oceans)

– Change in velocity facilitates the river Change in velocity facilitates the river dropping its sediment load and allowing for dropping its sediment load and allowing for the rapid aggradation of a sediment depositthe rapid aggradation of a sediment deposit

Definition:Definition:– An alluvial/fluvial deposit, usually triangular An alluvial/fluvial deposit, usually triangular

in shape, at the mouth of rivers, streams or in shape, at the mouth of rivers, streams or tidal inletstidal inlets

– Location were rivers discharge into large Location were rivers discharge into large bodies of standing water (lakes or oceans)bodies of standing water (lakes or oceans)

– Change in velocity facilitates the river Change in velocity facilitates the river dropping its sediment load and allowing for dropping its sediment load and allowing for the rapid aggradation of a sediment depositthe rapid aggradation of a sediment deposit

Processes Controlling Delta Processes Controlling Delta MorphologyMorphology

Processes Controlling Delta Processes Controlling Delta MorphologyMorphology

Mississippi River Delta - Mississippi River Delta - the classic birds footthe classic birds foot

Mississippi River Delta - Mississippi River Delta - the classic birds footthe classic birds foot


ChannelizedChannelizedSectionSectionLowerLower

MississippiMississippiRiver Delta;River Delta;

CurrentCurrentTerminalTerminal

LobeLobe


The Nile - The Nile - the classicthe classic

wave-wave-dominateddominated

The Nile - The Nile - the classicthe classic

wave-wave-dominateddominated


The Fly -The Fly -the classic the classic

tide-dominatedtide-dominated

The Fly -The Fly -the classic the classic

tide-dominatedtide-dominated


Delta DevelopmentDelta DevelopmentDelta DevelopmentDelta Development


Delta Evolution -Delta Evolution -the Mississippi River Deltathe Mississippi River Delta






The Mississippi & the USACEThe Mississippi & the USACEThe Mississippi & the USACEThe Mississippi & the USACE


Old River Flow ControlOld River Flow ControlOld River Flow ControlOld River Flow Control


Documents

From the Mountain to the Sea: Rivers and Erosion Dr Allen Gontz Coastal Geologist & Geophysicist EEOS Dr Allen Gontz Coastal Geologist & Geophysicist EEOS