Processes of initiation of motion leading to bedload transport in gravel-bed rivers

Celso Garcia, Hai Cohen, Ian Reid, Albert Rovira, Xavier Úbeda, Jonathan B. Laronne

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

Transport processes that lead to the initiation of bedload motion in gravel-bed rivers have not yet been clarified. We report patch- and grain-scale processes involved in the initiation of bedload motion in a natural gravel-bed stream as observed through a series of video experiments. With increasing flow strength, the phases of initiation of motion that have been identified are (1) within-patch grain instability (grain vibration, pivoting, and grain-scale rolling), (2) within-patch gyratory step-and-rest motion, and (3) general sediment motion involving downstream transport from an individual patch and the throughput of grains inherited from upstream.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberL06403
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume34
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 28 Mar 2007

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geophysics
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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