Perennial-streamflow characteristics related to channel geometry and sediment in Missouri River basin

Abstract

Geometry, channel-sediment, and discharge data were collected and compiled from 252 streamflow-gaging stations in the Missouri River basin. The stations, with several exceptions, have at least 20 years of streamflow records and represent the complete ranges of hydrologic and geologic conditions found in the basin. The data were analyzed by computer to yield simple and multiple power-function equations relating various discharge characteristics to variables of channel geometry and bed and bank material. The equations provide discharge as the dependent variable for the purpose of making estimates of discharge characteristics at ungaged sites. Results show that channel width is best related to variables of discharge, but that significant improvement, or reduction of the standard errors of estimate, can be achieved by considering channel-sediment properties, channel gradient, and discharge variability. The channel-material variables do not have uniform effects on width-discharge relations and, therefore, are considered as sediment-data groups, or stream types, rather than as terms in multiple power-function equations. Relative to streamflow, narrowest channels occur when streams of steady discharge transport sufficient silt and clay to form stable, cohesive banks but have a small bed-material load of sand and coarser sizes. Stable channels also are associated with relatively large channel gradients, relatively large channel roughness, and armoring of bed and bank by coarse particle sizes. The widest, most unstable channels are ones that apparently transport a large bedmaterial load of sand sizes. The downstream rates of change of width with discharge reflect these trends, indicating that a given bed-material load necessitates a minimum width for movement of tractive material. Comparisons of standard errors of estimate given here with similar results from regional studies are variable. It is assumed, however, that a benefit of this study is that the use of the equations is not limited to the Missouri River basin. Besides the principal utility of estimating discharge characteristics of ungaged streams, the equations given here can be used for the design of artificial channels and can be used as a basis of predicting channel changes resulting from upstream alterations of the basin or channel.

Paleohydrology of Eberswalde crater, Mars

“…Bank strength is an important factor in relationships between channel width and channel-forming discharge, as weaker banks typically yield wider channels per unit discharge (e.g., Osterkamp and Hedman, 1982). Moore et al (2003) noted that bank cohesion was required to support meander development and a prominent chute cutoff on the Eberswalde deposit, but that the source of the cohesion remains unknown (possibilities include cementation, ice, or perhaps a high clay content).…”

“…Moore et al (2003) preferred a channel-forming discharge of 700 m 3 /s. Irwin et al (2005a) used an empirical relationship between channel width and discharge with a recurrence interval of two years (a proxy for channel-forming discharge), where the relationship is more appropriate for weak channel banks and, therefore, more conservative (Osterkamp and Hedman, 1982). Their estimate was 550 m 3 /s, corresponding to runoff production of 1 cm/day, based on measurements of width and contributing area from Moore et al (2003).…”

“…Irwin et al (2005a) estimated a minimum channel-forming discharge (Q, m 3 /s) and rate of runoff production for event floods (R e , discharge divided by contributing area, reported as cm/day) for a set of Martian interior channels, based on width and assuming weak banks. They selected a terrestrial empirical relationship from Osterkamp and Hedman (1982) with relatively low bank strength (and, thus, channels of high width/depth ratio), discharge as the dependent variable, and a recurrence interval of two years (i.e., Q 2 , which is commonly associated with channel-forming discharge (Knighton, 1998)). That relationship, when scaled for Martian gravity by a factor of 0.62 (i.e., 0.38 0.5 ) , is:…”

Eskers in a complete, wet-based glacial system in the Phlegra Montes region, Mars

“…0 m in the cross-sectional profiles) to the opposite bank above which width increased at a greater rate than depth (Osterkamp and Hedman, 1982). Hence, each bankfull cross-section was characterised by the minimum width-to-depth ratio (Pickup and Warner, 1976) and, as higher breaks-of-slope occur in the cross-sectional profiles, provided a replicable and conservative measure of wb.…”

Estimation of peak streamflows through channel geometry / Estimation de pics de débit fluviatiles à l'aide de la géométrie des cours d'eau

“…They showed that channel geometry-based estimates of 5-and 10-year return periods are often as reliable as those based upon 5-10 years of streamflow records. In the USA, the relationship between flood discharge and river channel dimensions was first developed following the suggestion of Langbein (1960) after research in Nevada; after a succession of studies, including Hedman et al (1972Hedman et al ( , 1974, Scott & Kunkler (1976), Riggs (1978), Osterkamp & Hedman (1979, 1982, Webber & Roberts (1981), Omang et al (1983), Wahl (1983Wahl ( , 1984 and Lawlor (2004), the method was accepted by the water resource division of the US Geological Survey as an operational technique. Considerable progress has been made in the USA in estimation of discharge from channel geometry for specific regions and is summarized by Wahl (1984).…”