Erosion properties of cohesive sediments in the Colorado River in Grand Canyon

Ryosuke Akahori, Mark Schmeeckle, David J. Topping, Theodore S. Melis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cohesive sediment deposits characterized by a high fraction of mud (silt plus clay) significantly affect the morphology and ecosystem of rivers. Potentially cohesive sediment samples were collected from deposits in the Colorado River in Marble and Grand Canyons. The erosion velocities of these samples were measured in a laboratory flume under varying boundary shear stresses. The non-dimensional boundary shear stress at which erosion commenced showed a systematic deviation from that of non-cohesive sediments at mud fractions greater than 0.2. An empirical relation for the boundary shear stress threshold of erosion as a function of mud fraction was proposed. The mass erosion rate was modelled using the Ariathurai-Partheniades equation. The erosion rate parameter of this equation was found to be a strong function of mud fraction. Under similar boundary shear stress and sediment supply conditions in the Colorado River, cohesive lateral eddy deposits formed of mud fractions in excess of 0.2 will erode less rapidly than non-cohesive deposits.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1160-1174
Number of pages15
JournalRiver Research and Applications
Volume24
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008

Keywords

  • Cohesive sediment
  • Erosion
  • Flume experiments
  • Grand Canyon
  • Mud
  • Sediment transport

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Water Science and Technology
  • General Environmental Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Erosion properties of cohesive sediments in the Colorado River in Grand Canyon'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this