Abstract
Better sampling strategies are needed to understand gravel-bed river dynamics. The leopold transect-line pebble count method needs to be extended to finer material. A new procedure which extends the method into the fine sand range is presented. Sampling underwater bed material with the proposed device is easier and more reliable. Such procedure was applied to two gravelbed rivers of the Northern Apennines where 13 and 12 sampling sites were selected respectively. The data gathered point out the great variability of grain size and much weaker than expected bar surface armoring. To investigate this result, replicate sub-surface sampling was carried out on two selected bars. Analysis of different characteristic diameters, including D50 of truncated grading curves, was performed as well. The apparent lack of bar surface armoring is discussed in terms of equal mobility and streamwise sorting. The downstream distribution of sand was analyzed since large quantities of fine material, entrapped in a few pools, were observed in sparse reaches. Possible mechanisms for local sediment accumulation may include bar winnowing, dissection or wash out as well as increased pool trapping efficiency are discussed.
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Billi, P. (1994). Streambed dynamics and grain-size characteristics of tow gravel rivers of the Northern Apennines, Italy. In: Ergenzinger, P., Schmidt, KH. (eds) Dynamics and Geomorphology of Mountain Rivers. Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences, vol 52. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0117840
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0117840
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