Advances In River Sediment Research

Sediments, which constitute the surface of the Earth, start their journey to rivers with the energy obtained from rainfalls, fl oods and other natural processes. Due to transport of sediments, rivers develop with various appearances and functions, and play a crucial role in the activities of human beings and the life cycles of other species. River

This book, Advances in Water Resources Engineering, Volume 14, covers the topics on watershed sediment dynamics and modeling, integrated simulation of interactive surface water and groundwater systems, river channel stabilization with submerged vanes, non-equilibrium sediment transport, reservoir sedimentation, and fluvial processes, minimum energy dissipation rate theory and applications, hydraulic modeling development and application, geophysical methods for assessment of earthen dams, soil erosion on upland areas by rainfall and overland flow, geofluvial modeling methodologies and applications, and environmental water engineering glossary.

Water is the essential element that all life-forms on our planet are dependent on. It is impossible to assess its value because it is equal to the life itself. Humans realized this fact long time ago and they always endeavored to control and manage water resources as they were afflicted by the drought and flood events throughout history. Therefore, the engineering of water resources and hydraulic structures is as old as the human civilization. The earliest known engineered irrigation system was developed in ancient Mesopotamia (Iraq); an advanced system of dikes, dams and canals was built for the purpose of irrigation and flood control. The main water sources for this system were the rivers Euphrates and Tigris. During plant growing seasons, the flow of water was properly regulated. Each farmer was allowed a certain amount of water, which was diverted from the canal into an irrigation ditch. The oldest known engineering plan of such an irrigation system has been documented on some unique and ancient clay tablet which has been discovered in Babylonia (belonging to 1684-1647 BC). It shows a map of canals with cuneiform scripts providing details about names, lengths, widths and depths of the canals and the volume of sediment to be dredged. Mesopotamians have acquired the expertise of maintaining their irrigation system over thousands of years. This contribution was a major step toward the modernization of humanity. The Water Research Center (located in Iraq), which is dedicated to the exchange of knowledge and technology in the water sector, has been inspired by those ancient engineers, hence published this book series entitled "Progress in River Engineering & Hydraulic Structures". It is intended to be a worldwide platform for the contemporary research in this field. Chapters of this series demonstrate the stringent need for new solutions and technologies in the subject of river engineering and hydraulic structures. The chapters cover a wide range of problems related to river regime and training works, performance of different kinds of hydraulic structures and any related multidisciplinary research. We believe that through the collaboration of researchers, engineers and professionals, we can accelerate the development in these areas. The book is aimed to serve as a reference for both researchers and postgraduate students.

Sediments are loose earth materials with variable grain size such as sand, silt and clay that accumulate on the land surface, in river and lake beds, and on the ocean floor. This book reports how data obtained for different elements (stable and radioactive) present in bottom sediments and suspended particulate matter (SPM) can be utilised to investigate hydrological processes occurring in different hydrographic basins in Brazil, South America. Particular attention is directed towards describing the importance of sediments on the adsorption of different stable/radioactive constituents. This book also evaluates the most common methods utilised to obtain metal background values for soil and sediments. These techniques are helpful when it is necessary to differentiate the background metal concentration from the area, from the pollutant metal concentration. Also reviewed is the data on content of aliphatic hydrocarbons (HC), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and suspended matter in snow, ice and under-ice water and bottom sediments at Northern Dvina mouth. Other chapters in this book examine the decomposition rate of organic matter in river sediments using the litterbag method, as well as measurement of O2 consumption rate by microbial respiration and microbiomass in sediment, and the speciation of some spiked components of sediments such as sand and clays. It is intended that this review will provide the present state of knowledge and current trends for investigators in this field.

Gravel-Bed Rivers: Processes, Tools, Environments presents a definitive review of current knowledge of gravel-bed rivers, derived from the 7th International Gravel-bed Rivers Workshop, the 5-yearly meeting of the world’s leading authorities in the field. Each chapter in the book has been specifically commissioned to represent areas in which recent progress has been made in the field. The topics covered also represent a coherent progression through the principal areas of the subject (hydraulics; sediment transport; river morphology; tools and methods; applications of science). Definitive review of the current knowledge of gravel-bed rivers Coverage of both fundamental and applied topics Edited by leading academics with contributions from key researchers Thoroughly edited for quality and consistency to provide coherent and logical progression through the principal areas of the subject.

The application of multibeam and sediment transport measurement technologies and the adoption of multi-faceted research methodologies have greatly advanced our understanding of the sedimentary processes on continental shelves in the last decade. This book uniquely blends cutting-edge research and state-of-the art review articles that take stock of new advances in multibeam mapping and sediment transport technologies, spatial analysis and modelling, and the applications of these advances to the understanding of shelf sediments, morphodynamics, and sedimentary processes. Case studies are also presented to illustrate the utilization of seabed property and process knowledge in habitat mapping and ocean management With its mix of papers focusing on technological advances, integration of shelf morphology and processes, and the application of these advances to coastal and ocean management, this Special Publication volume will serve as a milestone reference for professional marine scientists and as advanced text for students in marine geology, sedimentology and oceanography. This book is part of the International Association of Sedimentologists (IAS) Special Publications. The Special Publications from the IAS are a set of thematic volumes edited by specialists on subjects of central interest to sedimentologists. Papers are reviewed and printed to the same high standards as those published in the journal Sedimentology and several of these volumes have become standard works of reference.