Sinuosity of Alluvial Rivers on the Great Plains

Abstract

Research Article| September 01, 1963 Sinuosity of Alluvial Rivers on the Great Plains S. A SCHUMM S. A SCHUMM U. S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colo Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information S. A SCHUMM U. S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colo Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 31 Jul 1962 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Copyright © 1963, The Geological Society of America, Inc. Copyright is not claimed on any material prepared by U.S. government employees within the scope of their employment. GSA Bulletin (1963) 74 (9): 1089–1100. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1963)74[1089:SOAROT]2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 31 Jul 1962 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation S. A SCHUMM; Sinuosity of Alluvial Rivers on the Great Plains. GSA Bulletin 1963;; 74 (9): 1089–1100. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1963)74[1089:SOAROT]2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Data on the morphologic and sediment characteristics of stable alluvial rivers of the Great Plains were collected at 50 cross sections. The channel patterns of these rivers were classified into five types: tortuous, irregular, regular, transitional, and straight. Because no clear demarcation existed between each of the types, the pattern of the rivers was described by sinuosity, a ratio of channel length to valley length. The sinuosity ((P)) of these rivers is related to the shape of the channels expressed as a width-depth ratio (F) and to the percentage of silt and clay in the perimeter of the channel (M) as follows: Sinuous streams are characterized by a low width-depth ratio (F), a high percentage of silt-clay in the perimeter of the channel (M), a high percentage of silt-clay in the banks (although the banks of straight channels may also contain large amounts of silt-clay), and a lower gradient than straight channels having the same mean discharge. Discharge itself does not appear to affect the sinuosity of streams.Another possible distinction between straight and sinuous streams is in the proportions of the components of total sediment load. In a wide, shallow channel much of the sediment transported is bed-material load. In a narrow, deep channel most of the sediment transported is wash load.On the Great Plains both straight and sinuous streams may flow on the surface of alluvial valley fills at about the same valley slope. The departure of a stream from a straight course down the alluvial valley results from changes in both the caliber of the sediment load and in the relative proportions of bed-material load and wash load during the post-Pleistocene alluviation of these valleys. When during this alluviation the proportion of wash load increased, most probably by a decrease in bed-material load, the stream adjusted itself by decreasing its gradient through the development of a sinuous course. Recent changes in stream sinuosity in response to changes in the proportions of bed load and suspended load support this hypothesis. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.