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Evaluation of bankfull stage from plotted channel geometries
Citation
Keast, D and Ellison, JC, Evaluation of bankfull stage from plotted channel geometries, Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, 41 Article 101052. ISSN 2214-5818 (2022) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
© 2022 Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.ejrh.2022.101052
Abstract
Study region
North-eastern Tasmania, Australia.
Study focus
Two quantitative methods for determining the bankfull stage of alluvial rivers from plotted channel cross-sections were assessed. Bankfull stage estimates determined using the minimum width-to-depth ratio and the first maximum of the bench-index were compared, and then evaluated against qualitative estimates of bankfull stage, using data from 89 cross-sectional surveys along nine alluvial river reaches in north-eastern Tasmania.
New hydrological insights for the region
The minimum width-to-depth ratio was found to provide lower estimates of bankfull stage than the bench-index, with an overall mean ratio between the two methods of 0.84. Qualitative estimates of bankfull stage generally fell between those provided by the two models, with the minimum width-to-depth ratio performing better when assessed against qualitative estimates. These results show that while neither method provides a suitable stand-alone means for estimating bankfull stage, in combination they provide an effective means to approximate the range of bankfull stage. The high variability in bankfull stage found along a reach in this study indicates that where possible bankfull stage is best determined at the reach rather than single cross-sectional scale. Bankfull stage should be presented as a range of values with associated confidence intervals rather than as a finite result, with definition of bankfull stage estimates and sample number also reported.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | river channel, cross-section, river reach, bankfull stage, Tasmania, Australia |
| Research Division: | Earth Sciences |
| Research Group: | Physical geography and environmental geoscience |
| Research Field: | Geomorphology and earth surface processes |
| Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
| Objective Group: | Fresh, ground and surface water systems and management |
| Objective Field: | Assessment and management of freshwater ecosystems |
| UTAS Author: | Keast, D (Mr David Keast) |
| UTAS Author: | Ellison, JC (Associate Professor Joanna Ellison) |
| ID Code: | 149805 |
| Year Published: | 2022 |
| Deposited By: | Geography and Spatial Science |
| Deposited On: | 2022-04-14 |
| Last Modified: | 2022-05-23 |
| Downloads: | 1 View Download Statistics |
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