Hydrodynamic and morphodynamic features observed about the confluence of

the Negro and Solimes Rivers, Brazil

M. Trevethan1, M. Ianniruberto2, M. Oliveira3, A. Martinelli3, N. Filizola4 and C. Gualtieri1
1

University of Napoli, Federico II, Napoli, ITALY. mark.trevethan@gmail.com, carlo.gualtieri@unina.it

2
University of Brasilia, Brasilia, BRAZIL. ianniruberto@unb.br
3
Geological Survey of Brazil (CPRM), Manaus, BRAZIL. marco.oliveira@cprm.gov.br, andre.santos@cprm.gov.br
4
Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, BRAZIL. naziano.filizola@gmail.com

1. Introduction
River confluences are an integral and ubiquitous feature
linking together the individual tributaries within river
networks. As the flows from two tributaries merge and
adjust to the confluences planform geometry substantial
changes to the flow hydrodynamics and bed morphology
that occur within and immediately downstream of the
confluence (Mosley, 1976). This region where the local
hydrodynamics are influenced by the convergence and
realignment of the combining flows at the confluence is
known as the Confluence Hydrodynamic Zone
(Kentworthy and Rhoads, 1995).
It is generally acknowledged that the hydrodynamics
and morphodynamics (i.e. patterns of erosion and
deposition) within the confluence hydrodynamic zone
(CHZ) are influenced by (1) the planform geometry of
the confluence and upstream/downstream channels,
including the junction angle of confluence; (2) discharge
(QR) and momentum flux (MR) ratios of merging
streams; (3) the level of concordance between channel
beds at the confluence entrance; and (4) water density
differences caused by differences in tributary water
chemistry (e.g. Mosley, 1976; Best, 1987; Best and
Rhoads, 2008). The fluid dynamics about confluences
have a highly complex three-dimensional flow structure
with several common types of flow features observed
(e.g. Best, 1987). Further, the bed morphology within
the confluence hydrodynamic zone can generally be
related to these flow features (e.g. Best, 1988; Szupiany
et al., 2009).
More generally, the patterns of erosion and deposition
within the CHZ reflect the spatial variations in bed shear
stress (e.g. Best and Rhoads, 2008). Ultimately, the bed
shear stress and sediment transport can be related to the
localised fluctuations in flow velocity (e.g. turbulence)
generated through the interaction of the flow with both
vertical and horizontal variations in channel bathymetry
causing the flow accelerate or decelerate.
Despite recent advances in the understanding about
confluences, to date most studies have focused on
laboratory or small natural confluences, with only a
limited number of studies conducted about large river
confluences (i.e. channel width > 100 m).
One
important but poorly understood aspect of confluence
dynamics is how scale related changes in confluence
geometry will effect the flow structure through the
confluence with these confluence scaling relations
conceivably being non-linear and therefore complex
(e.g. Rhoads, 2006). The few available field studies in
large river confluences have highlighted some
significant differences between the dynamics of large
and small confluences that require further investigation.

Presented herein are details of the key morphodynamic

and hydrodynamic features observed during a field
campaign conducted about the confluence of the Negro
and Solimes Rivers, Brazil as well as some insights on
the interaction of these flow and bed features. Since this
confluence ranks among the largest on Earth this study
aims to provide some general insights into large
confluence dynamics and processes.
1.1 Field Site and instrumentation
The confluence of the Negro and Solimes Rivers is
located near Manaus in Northern Brazil, where these
rivers merge to form the Amazon River approximately
1,600 km upstream from it's mouth at the Atlantic
Ocean. This confluence is famous for the meeting of the
black (Negro) and white (Solimes) waters of the two
rivers, which may be visually observed not mixing for
about 50 km downstream. The distinct waters of these
two rivers are related to the locations of the two
catchments within the Amazon Basin, with the Negro
catchment (area = 687,000 km2) located in the North
draining the Western slopes of the Guyana Shield, while
the Solimes catchment (area = 2,150,000 km2) is
located in the West of the basin with it's sediment rich
waters originating from the Andes (e.g. Laraque et al.,
2009). There is also a relatively large difference in the
volumetric discharge from the Negro and Solimes
Rivers with average discharges of approximately 27,000
and 103,000 m3/s respectively.
In October 2014, a field study (CNS1) was conducted
about the confluence of the Negro and Solimes Rivers
during "low flow conditions" (e.g. Trevethan et al.,
2015). As part of the Field Study CNS1 a detailed series
of ADCP and seismic transects, were collected to
investigate key the hydrodynamic and morphodynamic
features observed about this confluence (e.g. Figure 1).
Figure 1 provides a map of the confluence for the Negro
and Solimes Rivers indicating the sampling locations
about the confluence during this field study.

Figure 1: Map of confluence for Negro and Solimes

Rivers, with sampling positions from CNS1 highlighted.

During this field study, a Teledyne RDI 600 kHz Rio

Grande acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) was
used to collect cross-sectional transects at key locations
about the confluence, as indicated by the dotted lines in
Figure 1. The ADCP was used to measure threedimensional water velocities over the water depth along
the transect, as well as water temperature near the
surface and backscatter intensity which is related to
suspended sediment concentration (e.g. Szupiany et al.,
2009). High-resolution seismic profiles were acquired
along the same ADCP transects using an Edgetech
3100P chirp sub-bottom profiler operated at frequency
of 2-15kHz. This system can penetrate up to 10m in
sand, allowing the description of architectural elements
of the active channel sand bars (e.g. Ianniruberto et al.,
2012). Due to the extreme sampling conditions (i.e. flow
velocities up to 3 m/s, turbulent eddies larger than 40 m)
a constant boat speed of approximately 2 m/s was used
while collecting these transects to ensure minimal lateral
variations about the transect line. These ADCP transects
shown in Figure 1 were collected over 5 days (28/101/11/2014) with multiple transects collected at many of
27 the locations about the CHZ. In addition to the crosssectional measurements, two longitudinal profiles one
on each side of the Amazon River were collected as well
as water samples at surface, 10 m and 20 m depths at
twelve locations about confluence. These water samples
were used to understand the characteristics of the two
tributaries (e.g. temperature, pH, conductivity) as well as
measure local suspended sediment concentration (SSC)
and oxygen isotope values.

3. Key Observations
Trevethan et al. (2015) presented an initial analysis of
the hydrodynamic, sediment transport and mixing
processes about the confluence of the Negro and
Solimes Rivers during the Field Study CNS1. The
tributary inflows entering the confluence were
approximately 25,000 and 65,000 m3/s for the Negro
and Solimes Rivers respectively, with the discharge
and momentum flux ratios being approximately
QR=0.379 and MR=0.112. As part of this analysis the
location and dimensions of key hydrodynamic and
morphodynamic features were approximated.
Figure 2 shows the location of key hydrodynamic and
morphodynamic features about the confluence of the
Negro and Solimes Rivers observed during the Field
Study CNS1. In Figure 2, the key hydrodynamic
features are: (1) stagnation zone; (2) region of
deflection; (3) downstream separation zone; (4) region
of maximum velocity; (5) region of flow recovery; (6)
mixing interface/shear layer; and (7) end of the
confluence hydrodynamic zone. While the key
morphodynamic features are: (8) scour hole; (9)
deposition about stagnation zone; (10) deposition about
downstream separation zone; and (11) deposition bars
about centre of channel; as well as (12) large bed-forms
on Solimes side of Amazon channel. It is worth noting
that no avalanche faces where easily discernable at
either tributary mouth during this field study. Further
throughout the study region the level and type of local
bed concordance (HN > HS; HN = HS; HN < HS) varied
significantly from site to site.

Figure 2: Key hydrodynamic and morphodynamic

features observed about confluence on 28-31/10/14.
Figure 3 provides a more detailed view of some key
features observed from the seismic profiles. The
location of these features are highlighted where
appropriate in Figures 4 and 5, with the seismic profiles
indicating some typical bed morphological features
which include: (A) on the Negro side of confluence, a
rocky bed with fine sand cover in morphodynamic traps
and V-shaped valleys; (B) a mid-channel peak/bar
(height 5 m; width 150 m) of apparent sedimentary
origin observed about the mixing interface; (C) in the
shallows shallow regions on Solimes side of
confluence about the confluence junction, which
features an undulating surface consisting of sand with
thickness greater than 5m; (D) mid-channel on Solimes
side on confluence features larger, more asymmetric
undulations with seismic hyperbolas suggesting that bed
consists predominantly of coarser materials such as
cobbles and small boulders; (E) upstream portion of
scour hole (length 1,500 m ; width 700 m; depth
20 m) characterised by eroded bedrock and deposited
sediment; and (F) large bed-forms (i.e. wavelength >
200 m; height > 5m) on Solimes side of Amazon River
only, indicating bed-load transport and possible
accretion further downstream towards end of CHZ. The
observed sub-horizontal continuous reflectors in this
region suggest the presence of a sedimentation
reactivation surface, possibly produced by changes in
the flow regime. Finally on the far Solimes side of the
confluence, where flow velocities are greatest, the
seismic profiling indicated that the bed in this region is
predominantly medium to large boulders (e.g. Figure 5).

Figure 3: More detailed view of typical bed morphology

features and composition from seismic profiles.
Figure 4 shows the variation in the river bed elevation
(bottom) and depth-averaged East (VE), North (VN) and
vertical (VZ) velocity components (top) for the
longitudinal profile LS travelling downstream along the

Solimes side of the confluence hydrodynamic zone

(e.g. Figure 1). In Figure 4, it can be seen that the scour
hole occurred around the region of maximum velocity
about the entrance to the Amazon River downstream
after a sharp bathymetric transition from sediment bypass plateau to sediment deposition region, a region of
large bed-forms was observed. This region seemed to
correspond to a reduction in the width of the mixing
interface, however no significant overturning of the
Negro and Solimes waters was observed during the
Field Study CNS1.
VE

VN

VZ

2
1.5

4. Discussion
0

2000

4000

6000

8000

-0.5
Transect Length (m)

Figure 4: Comparison of seismic and ADCP longitudinal

data collected Solimes side of Amazon River.
A comparison of ADCP and seismic data indicated that
patterns of sediment erosion and deposition about the
confluence matched the local spatial variations of bed
shear stress, which is directly proportional to the local
depth-averaged velocity magnitude (e.g. Sime et al.,
2007). Figure 5 shows the variation in bed elevation
(bottom) and bed shear stress and surface temperature at
Site C0 approximately 200 m downstream of the
confluence junction. Herein the surface temperature is
used to indicate the location of the mixing interface. In
Figure 5, it can been seen that the bed shear stress is
largest on the Solimes side of the confluence,
decreasing by several orders of magnitude about the
mixing interface. Bed shear stress can be related to
particle settling velocity and bed-load movement
thresholds, and thereby it can be used to approximate the
maximum particle size in suspension (e.g. Trevethan and
Aoki, 2009). Therefore this large reduction in bed shear
stress about the mixing interface will lead to a
significant decrease in the size of sediment that can be
suspended and consequently deposition of these sand
particle about mixing interface (e.g. bar in Figure 3B).
Temperature (C)

Bed shear stress (Pa)

3
30.6
30.4

Mixing Interface
30.2
1
30
29.8
0

400

800

1200

1600

2000

2400

2800

3200

3600

4000

4400

Transect Length (m)

Figure 5: Comparison of seismic and ADCP data

collected at site C0 on 31/10/14.

0
4800

Bed shear stress (Pa)

Surface Temperature (C)

31
30.8

Both short- and long-term variations in tributary

discharge and the changing ratio of these discharges
(QR) can have a significant impact on the local
hydrodynamic and sediment transport processes (e.g.
Best, 1987). Further these variations in water and
sediment discharge through the confluence impact on
the local bed morphology (e.g. Best, 1988). Figure 6
shows the monthly variation in water discharge
measured by CPRM between 2008 and 2014 of the
Negro (QN) and Solimes (QS) Rivers upstream of the
confluence at the Tatu Paricatuba and Manacapuru
stations. It should be noted that roughly 10 to 20 % of
the Solimes discharge at Manacapuru bypasses the
Negro/Solimes confluence through the Careiro
channel, which rejoins the main Amazon River channel
approximately 60 km downstream of the confluence. In
Figure 6, the change discharge ratio (QR=QN/QS) over
this period is also shown, varying between
approximately 0.1 and 0.9, with a median value of 0.4.
1.0

QN/QS

QN (Tatu Paricatuba)

QS (Manacapuru)
CNS1

0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
Jan-08

May-09

Sep-10

Feb-12

Jun-13

160000
140000
120000
100000
80000
60000
40000
20000

Discharge (m /s)

1
0.5

QN/QS

Depth-averaged Velocity (m/s)

2.5

This phenomenon seemed related to the lateral

stratification formed due to the distinct water
characteristics (e.g. temperature, Conductivity, pH,
suspended sediment concentration) of the merging
tributary flows. Trevethan et al. (2015) indicated that
this lateral stratification formed through the significant
pressure created by the lateral force component of the
momentum fluxes from the converging rivers. Further
this lateral stratification can have a significant impact on
the local hydrodynamic, sediment transport and mixing
processes within the confluence, especially under high
flow conditions when the lateral forces and therefore
level of this stratification is greater.

0
Nov-14

Date

Figure 6: Discharge ratio and discharge data from Negro

(QN) and Solimes (QS) Rivers collected at Tatu
Paricatuba and Manacapuru stations by CPRM between
2008-2014.
Such large variations in the discharge ratio may have a
significant impact on the position of the mixing interface
(e.g. Kentworthy and Rhoads, 1995) and location of
local scour (e.g. Best, 1988) within the CHZ, as well as
inducing a backwater effect on the Negro and
occasionally Solimes Rivers (e.g. Meade et al., 1991).
This backwater effect increases water levels about and
upstream of the confluence depositing Solimes
sediments on the local flood plains. Further in the past
under certain flow conditions the Solimes River has
completely blocked Negro creating a "ria lake", which
in turn may influence the local geomorphology.
Figure 7 shows an approximation of the local
bathymetry within the CHZ during the Field Study
CNS1, generated through a krigging procedure of the

collected seismic data. In Figure 7, several regions of

increased depth can be observed these regions are most
likely the location of past scour holes. Such scour holes
were created by these variations in discharge ratio
interacted, when both the flow conditions and
confluence junction angle differed significantly from
those observed today (e.g. Franzinelli, 2011).
Franzinelli (2011) indicated that the confluence junction
angle of the Negro and Solimes Rivers has varied over
time from 15 to approximately 90 in the late 1990's.
This was predominantly due to deposition of Solimes
River sediment on it's North bank near the confluence
junction. It is worth noting that between the late 1990's
and the present the confluence junction angle has
changed from 90 to approximately 80. This change in
junction angle may help to account for the differences in
the amount of mixing observed about the confluence
under similar flow conditions between the Field Study
CNS1 and the study of Laraque et al. (2009) conducted
in September 1997 as noted in Trevethan et al. (2015).

Figure 7: Confluence bathymetry during Field Study

CNS1, approximated via krigging of seismic profiles.
Such a morphological change in the junction angle may
have a significant impact on the local confluence
hydrodynamics, especially to the level of lateral
stratification about the mixing interface and energy
losses in the central confluence region. For example, the
observed reduction in junction angle from 90 to
approximately 80 will reduce the lateral momentum
force acting on the mixing interface by approximately
2%. This reduction in pressure that the Solimes places
on the mixing interface will reduce the local level of
stratification (represented by the Richardson number),
and thereby conceivably enhance local mixing
processes. If such a reduction in the confluence junction
angle continues it will induce some significant changes
to local bed morphology as well as the hydrodynamic,
mixing and sediment transport processes observed about
the confluence of the Negro and Solimes Rivers.

5. Conclusions
About the very large confluence of Negro and Solimes
Rivers all key flow features and the majority of key bed
features noted in previous studies about smaller
confluences were observed. Some typical confluence
bed features and composition were presented from
seismic profiles collected about the confluence. Finally
some flow-bed interactions were briefly noted herein

which may assist in better understanding large

confluence dynamics.

Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge this research was carried out
within the CLIM-AMAZON European Laboratory in
Brazil funded by grant agreement FP7 INCO-LAB n
295091 from European Commission; the CPRM
(Geological Survey of Brazil) for supplying research
vessel, instrumentation and technical assistance as well
as ADCP transects collected between 2008-2014; and
assistance of Joao Andrade with seismic data collection.

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