Form roughness and the absence of secondary flow in a large confluence-diffluence, Rio Paraná, Argentina

Parsons, D.R.; Best, J.L.; Lane, S.N.; Orfeo, O.; Hardy, R.J.; Kostaschuk, R.

Abstract

Confluence–diffluence units are key elements within many river networks, having a major impact upon the routing of flow and sediment, and hence upon channel change. Although much progress has been made in understanding river confluences, and increasing attention is being paid to bifurcations and the important role of bifurcation asymmetry, most studies have been conducted in laboratory flumes or within small rivers with width:depth (aspect) ratios less than 50. This paper presents results of a field-based study that details the bed morphology and 3D flow structure within a very large confluence–diffluence in the Río Paraná, Argentina, with a width:depth ratio of approximately 200. Flow within the confluence–diffluence is dominated largely by the bed roughness, in the form of sand dunes; coherent, channel-scale, secondary flow cells, that have been identified as important aspects of the flow field within smaller channels, and assumed to be present within large rivers, are generally absent in this reach. This finding has profound implications for flow mixing rates, sediment transport rates and pathways, and thus the interpretation of confluence–diffluence morphology and sedimentology.

Citation

Parsons, D., Best, J., Lane, S., Orfeo, O., Hardy, R., & Kostaschuk, R. (2007). Form roughness and the absence of secondary flow in a large confluence-diffluence, Rio Paraná, Argentina. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 32(1), 155-162. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.1457

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2007
• Deposit Date: Aug 23, 2010
• Journal: Earth Surface Processes and Landforms
• Print ISSN: 0197-9337
• Electronic ISSN: 1096-9837
• Publisher: British Society for Geomorphology
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 32
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 155-162
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.1457
• Keywords: Confluence, Diffluence, Large river, Secondary flow Paraná River.