The exceptional sediment load of fine-grained dispersal systems: Example of the Yellow River, China

Science Advances
Hongbo MaGary Parker

Abstract

Sedimentary dispersal systems with fine-grained beds are common, yet the physics of sediment movement within them remains poorly constrained. We analyze sediment transport data for the best-documented, fine-grained river worldwide, the Huanghe (Yellow River) of China, where sediment flux is underpredicted by an order of magnitude according to well-accepted sediment transport relations. Our theoretical framework, bolstered by field observations, demonstrates that the Huanghe tends toward upper-stage plane bed, yielding minimal form drag, thus markedly enhancing sediment transport efficiency. We present a sediment transport formulation applicable to all river systems with silt to coarse-sand beds. This formulation demonstrates a remarkably sensitive dependence on grain size within a certain narrow range and therefore has special relevance to silt-sand fluvial systems, particularly those affected by dams.

References

Feb 17, 2007·Science·Helen Amanda FrickerLaurie Padman
Jun 16, 2007·Science·John Bohannon
Mar 1, 2014·Nature Communications·Vamsi GantiBrandon McElroy
May 2, 2015·Science·J E O'ConnorG E Grant

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Citations

Dec 20, 2019·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Hongbo MaGary Parker
Jun 27, 2019·Scientific Reports·Octavio E SequeirosJeffrey G Rimmer

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