Response of Riverbed Shaping to a Flood Event in the Reach from Alar to Xinquman in the Mainstream of the Tarim River
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Study Area and Data
2.1. Selection of Typical River Sections
2.2. Selection of Different Flood Event
2.3. Model Selection
3. Methodologies
3.1. DEM Construction
3.2. Model Settings
3.3. Model Test
4. Results and Discussion
4.1. Channel Formation in Response to a Flood Event with Different Sediment Loads
4.2. Channel Morphology Responded to Flood Events with Different Flood Volumes
4.2.1. Pre-Flood Stage: Positive Correlation Between Siltation Intensity and Flood Volume
4.2.2. Post-Peak Stage: Differential Cumulative Sedimentation Effect
4.3. Riverbed Shaping Response to Flood Events with Different Peak Flows
4.3.1. Pre-Crash Stage: Impact of Water Flow Strength
4.3.2. Post-Flood Stage: Differences in Flushing Effects
4.4. Optimization of the Water and Sediment Transport Capacity of Rivers
5. Conclusions
- 1.
- Changes directly influenced the distribution of erosion and deposition in the riverbed in sediment load, which is a pivotal factor in shaping the riverbed during floods. Under conditions of high sediment load (10 kg/m3), the scouring capacity of the main channel was suppressed, leading to substantial deposition within the floodplain area. Under moderate sediment load conditions (6 kg/m3), the characteristics of bed erosion and deposition differed across various flood events. In contrast, under low sediment load conditions (2 kg/m3), the scouring effect on the main channel of the riverbed was significantly increased, and the riverbed continued to exhibit scouring characteristics even after the flood peak. Conversely, as the sediment load increased, the magnitude of sedimentation in the floodplain also rose. Under equivalent sediment load conditions, the magnitude of flood flow directly influenced the extent of sedimentation in the floodplain.
- 2.
- The role of flood volume and peak flow in shaping the riverbed varied significantly at different flood stages. Through rigorous analysis, it has been determined that during the pre-peak phase of a flood, an elevated flood volume, attributable to its extended duration and substantial cumulative flow, can substantially augment the scouring capacity of the primary channel. This, in turn, fosters the adjustment and reconstruction of the riverbed in depth. In the post-peak phase, the average daily flow rate of the fourth type of flood event was 1060 m3/s, and the corresponding bed-forming flow rate was 1100 m3/s, which had the most significant scouring effect under low-sediment load conditions. By combining high peak flow with a flow that approximates bed-forming conditions after the peak, the central channel’s morphology can be more effectively shaped, enhancing the river’s efficiency in water and sediment transport.
- 3.
- A multifaceted interaction between water and sediment conditions, flood volume, peak flow, and river channel morphology determined the riverbed shaping process. Moderate water and sediment conditions, coupled with an optimal balance of flood volume and peak flow, can achieve a dynamic equilibrium in riverbed morphology. The results indicate that the morphological and sediment transport comprehensive coefficient, denoted by Φ, of the fourth type of flood event was the most substantial among the six types of flood event, and this flow level exhibited superior flood transport capacity. This finding is significant for optimizing water and sediment transport in the Tarim River mainstream from Alar to the Xinquman River section. It provides a reliable basis for flood regulation and management.
- 4.
- Through a comparative analysis of existing research, we believe that the pattern discovered in this study is not only applicable to the Tarim River but may also be applicable to other similar wandering river systems. For instance, Sun, D.P. et al. [56] conducted an in-depth exploration of the scour and deposition patterns in the wandering reaches of the lower Yellow River during flood events. Their findings revealed that it is not the floods with the highest discharge that have the greatest scouring effect, but rather the interaction between riverbed morphology and flood discharge that predominantly governs the processes of erosion and deposition. This aligns with the findings of our study, where the erosion and deposition patterns in the wandering reaches of the lower Yellow River also support the principle of “large floods travel straight, small floods meander, large floods scour, small floods deposit.” Given the similarities in geomorphological characteristics and river types between the study reach and the lower Yellow River, both being wandering reaches, we speculate that the pattern discovered in this study possesses strong universality and can be applied to other similar wandering river systems. Future research may further validate the applicability of this pattern in different wandering rivers and investigate its performance under various hydrological conditions and geological backgrounds.
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Flood Event | Occurrence Time | Peak Flow (m3/s) | Flood Volume (m3) | Sediment Concentration (kg/m3) |
---|---|---|---|---|
The first type | 4 August 2001–4 September 2001 | 1250 | 20,000 | 2, 6, 10 |
The second type | 13 July 2001–13 August 2001 | 1420 | 20,000 | 2, 6, 10 |
The third type | 27 July 2005–27 August 2005 | 1490 | 27,000 | 2, 6, 10 |
The fourth type | 20 July 2006–20 August 2006 | 1810 | 31,000 | 2, 6, 10 |
The fifth type | 19 July 2010–19 August 2010 | 1870 | 37,000 | 2, 6, 10 |
The sixth type | 4 August 2022–4 September 2022 | 1820 | 37,000 | 2, 6, 10 |
Flood Event | Total Flow Before Peak Stage (m3) | Total Flow After Peak Stag (m3) | Average Daily Flow Before Peak Stage (m3/s) | Average Daily Flow After Peak Stage (m3/s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
The fourth type | 7300 | 21,000 | 730 | 1083 |
The fifth type | 14,400 | 21,000 | 1030 | 1235 |
Flood Event | Total Flow Before Peak Stage (m3) | Total Flow After Peak Stag (m3) | Average Daily Flow Before Peak Stage (m3/s) | Average Daily Flow After Peak Stage (m3/s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
The first type | 8773 | 9867 | 585 | 617 |
The second type | 7698 | 11,000 | 513 | 666 |
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Zhao, M.; Li, Y.; Li, L.; Dai, W. Response of Riverbed Shaping to a Flood Event in the Reach from Alar to Xinquman in the Mainstream of the Tarim River. Water 2025, 17, 1092. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17071092
Zhao M, Li Y, Li L, Dai W. Response of Riverbed Shaping to a Flood Event in the Reach from Alar to Xinquman in the Mainstream of the Tarim River. Water. 2025; 17(7):1092. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17071092
Chicago/Turabian StyleZhao, Mingcheng, Yujian Li, Lin Li, and Wenhong Dai. 2025. "Response of Riverbed Shaping to a Flood Event in the Reach from Alar to Xinquman in the Mainstream of the Tarim River" Water 17, no. 7: 1092. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17071092
APA StyleZhao, M., Li, Y., Li, L., & Dai, W. (2025). Response of Riverbed Shaping to a Flood Event in the Reach from Alar to Xinquman in the Mainstream of the Tarim River. Water, 17(7), 1092. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17071092