Longitudinal changes in size and sorting of stream-bed material in four English rivers

Abstract

Research Article| January 01, 1980 Longitudinal changes in size and sorting of stream-bed material in four English rivers A. D. KNIGHTON A. D. KNIGHTON 1Department of Geography, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, England Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (1980) 91 (1): 55–62. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1980)91<55:LCISAS>2.0.CO;2 Article history first online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation A. D. KNIGHTON; Longitudinal changes in size and sorting of stream-bed material in four English rivers. GSA Bulletin 1980;; 91 (1): 55–62. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1980)91<55:LCISAS>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 Downstream changes in mean grain size and sorting coefficient are examined for four streams flowing in similar physiographic environments. Mean grain size decreases exponentially as expected, although there is considerable scatter about regression lines which can in part be related to tributary effects. Of greater interest is the downstream variation of bed material sorting which is described in each case by a sinusoidal function offering a higher level of explanation than does linear regression. This periodic behavior of the sorting coefficient is explained in terms of sediment inputs from tributary sources being superimposed on the over-all tendency for sorting and abrasion processes acting in the main stream to improve bed-material sorting in the direction of transport. The established sinusoidal relation between mean grain size and sorting cannot by itself explain the periodic variation in this case. An alternative descriptive function for the sorting data is discussed. 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.