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Abstract
Bed load transport formulae have not been tested extensively over medium spatial and temporal scales. The lack of such
testing is undoubtedly due to a paucity of field data available for testing at these scales. Extensive transport, morphologic, and
discharge data, available for a 10-year period along an 8-km study reach of the Vedder River, British Columbia, are used to test
the predictive capabilities of bed load transport formulae at medium scales. The transport data were obtained using the
morphologic approach, which is based on the premise that changes in channel morphology reflect the transfer of sediment. Such
transport estimates can be made over larger spatial and temporal scales than is possible using traditional measurement techniques.
This study focuses on evaluating the original and revised versions of the Bagnold stream power formula, the Meyer-Peter and
Muller formula and a stream power correlation. Overall, the formulae are found to underpredict gravel transport rates for the
Vedder River. The discrepancy is particularly pronounced in 1982 1983 and 1987 1990, which are periods during which
significant dredging occurred. Dredging activity may have loosened the bed structure or resulted in a disequilibrium morphology,
thereby increasing sediment movement. Analysis is undertaken to assess how the use of mean daily discharge vs. 15-min
increment discharge series affects transport predictions. Results show that only the Meyer-Peter and Muller formula is
particularly sensitive to which discharge series is used in calculations. Modification of the Shields parameter is found to
significantly affect transport predictions, although it cannot explain alone the discrepancies between field data and calculated
results. Predictions of total deposition in the study reach are well within an order-of-magnitude for all equations. The Bagnoldtype formulae and the Meyer-Peter and Muller formula do not capture the relatively even distribution of deposition along the
study reach. Surprisingly, the simple stream power correlation captured this downstream pattern of deposition. Cumulative
distributions of predicted bed load transport are found to be most realistic for the original and revised Bagnold formulae. Results
of this study do not suggest that one particular formula is consistently preferred.
D 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Bed load transport; Transport formula; Field data
1. Introduction
Despite the widespread use of bed load transport
formulae in both applied and theoretical studies, critical
* Tel.: +1-403-220-6197; fax: +1-403-282-6561.
E-mail address: ymartin@ucalgary.ca (Y. Martin).
0169-555X/02/$ - see front matter D 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/S0169-555X(02)00348-3
76
77
78
Fig. 1. Location of the Vedder River. The 10 study reaches along the Vedder River are shown.
79
Additional terms in the equation collapse to a coefficient of 0.0139, which is placed in front of the right-
80
hand side of the equation. In addition, relations between excess stream power and bed load transport rate
were examined for a fixed slope of 1.5 to empirically
define coefficients. For the empirical trials, the rational
depth and grain-size scalings resulted in a coefficient
of 0.0793, in contrast to the rationally derived coefficient of 0.0139. The version of this equation with the
rationally derived coefficient is herein referred to as
rational formula #1, while the version with the empirically derived coefficient is referred to as rational formula #2 (Table 1).
3.2. Meyer-Peter and Muller formula
The Meyer-Peter and Muller (MPM) formula
(Meyer-Peter and Muller, 1948) has been used frequently to estimate rates of bed load transport (e.g.,
HEC, 1991; Nicholas, 2000) and was found to perform reasonably well by Gomez and Church (1989).
This equation has the form (Gomez and Church,
1989)
ib
cs
1000
cs c
"
#3=2
QB =QKB =KG 3=2 dS 0:047fcs c=cgD
0:25=cc=g1=3
and
4. Input variables
KB u=d
2=3 1=2
KG 26=D90 1=6
Table 1
Bagnold-type formulae implemented in calculations (see Martin and
Church (2000) for further details)
Version of Bagnold-type formula
Form of equation
a
Version of the formula with rational scalings and coefficient
obtained from dimensional analysis.
b
Version of the formula with rational scalings and empirically
derived coefficient.
4.1. Discharge
Daily mean discharge data are available at Vedder
Crossing for the years 1911 to the present day, with a
gap in the record from 1932 to 1954. As no significant
tributaries enter the Vedder River between Vedder
Crossing and the canal entrance, these values are
representative of the entire study reach. The hydrograph from 1981 to 1990, which is directly used in
transport calculations, is shown in Fig. 2. Two significant flood events occurred during this period. The
flood of January 1984 had a discharge of 524 m3 s 1
while the flood of November 1989 had a value of 647
m3 s 1. The stage recorder at Vedder Crossing was
not functioning during these flood events. Therefore,
these discharge values were estimated using the
results of regression analysis between discharges
measured at Vedder Crossing and an upstream stage
recorder.
81
Fig. 2. Hydrograph for the Vedder River at Vedder Crossing for the study period 1981 1990. Values shown are mean daily discharges.
10
82
Width (m)
Depth (m)
1
2
3
4
103
94
137
56
1.73
2.98
1.51
2.63
(xs
(xs
(xs
(xs
1 4)
5 6)
7 10)
11)
Fig. 4. Mean bed elevations along the Vedder River. The derivative of
the best-fit line is used to obtain values of gradient for input in
calculations.
83
11
12
5. Gravel transport
5.1. Comparing field data to calculated transport
rates
Transport rates reported in Martin and Church
(1995) represent gravel material only (>2 mm). There-
Fig. 6. Median grain size of bed load in transport for the Vedder
River measured near the town of Yarrow (data from McLean, 1980).
Note the large increase in D50 of bed load at about 225 m3 s 1.
84
Fig. 7. Predicted and observed gravel transport rates along the Vedder River. The error ranges shown are those given in Martin and Church (1995).
The maximum discharge for each period is also shown. Predicted values for 1984 1987 and 1987 1990 have been divided by the 3 years each
period covers for comparison with field values that are annual averages over the 3-year period. (A) 1981 1982, (B) 1982 1983, (C) 1983 1984,
(D) 1984 1987, (E) 1987 1990.
85
Table 3
Calculated gravel transport rates divided by field transport measurements (values represent averages of all cross sections)
Bed load equation
1981 1982
1982 1983
1983 1984
1984 1987
1987 1990
Averagea
Original
Rational #1
Rational #2
Stream power
MPM
Average
Material removed by
dredging during
period (m3)
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
18,000
0.12
0.029
0.19
0.28
0.19
0.16
75,000
0.28
0.064
0.37
0.54
0.99
0.45
0.46
0.10
0.59
1.32
1.61
0.82
0.087
0.022
0.12
0.13
0.30
0.13
187,000
0.24
0.054
0.32
0.56
0.77
Average for periods 1982 1983, 1983 1984, 1984 1987, and 1987 1990.
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Fig. 9. Hydrographs for two sample floods. (A) July 11 15, 1983,
and (B) February 24 26, 1986.
ing on which discharge values are implemented. Results for the 1986 flood are similar to those of the 1983
flood for all formulae (Fig. 11).
The reasons underlying the greater sensitivity of the
MPM formula in comparison to other formulae are
now examined. Examination of calculations for the
Bagnold-type formulae reveals that the threshold condition for transport is always met for both discharge
series. Because the rating curves for these relations are
not highly nonlinear, minimal discrepancy is expected
Fig. 8. Relation between discharge and unit transport rate for all equations tested in this study.
Fig. 10. Gravel transport predictions for the July 1983 flood using
the mean daily and 15-min interval discharge series. (A) Results for
the three Bagnold-type formulae, and (B) results for the Meyer-Peter
and Muller formula and the stream power correlation.
13
87
88
Fig. 11. Gravel transport predictions for the February 1986 flood using the mean daily and 15-min interval discharge series. (A) Results for the
three Bagnold-type formulae, and (B) results for the Meyer-Peter and Muller formula and the stream power correlation.
89
Fig. 12. Results of gravel transport calculations for the rational #2 formula using Shields values ranging from 0.01 to 0.1. The solid lines are the
field data and error ranges. The dashed lines are the predicted values using the modified Shields parameters. (A) 1982 1983, (B) 1983 1984, (C)
1984 1987, (D) 1987 1990.
Fig. 13. Results of gravel transport calculations for the Meyer-Peter and Muller formula using Shields values ranging from 0.01 to 0.1. The solid
lines are the field data and error ranges. The dashed lines are the predicted values using the modified Shields parameters. (A) 1982 1983, (B)
1983 1984, (C) 1984 1987, (D) 1987 1990.
90
Fig. 14. Predicted and observed values of total deposition. (A) 1981 1982, (B) 1982 1983, (C) 1983 1984, (D) 1984 1987, (E) 1987 1990.
Table 4
Predicted total deposition divided by field values of total deposition (first value is for >0.1 mm and second value is for >1.0 mm)
Original
Rational #1
Rational #2
Stream power
MPM
Average
a
1981 1982a
1982 1983
1983 1984
1984 1987
1987 1990
Average
3.1 3.4
1.1 1.2
6.4 7.1
10.9 12.1
0
4.3 4.8
2.0 2.4
0.70 0.80
3.9 4.6
3.3 3.9
0.36 0.41
2.1 2.4
1.1 1.3
0.37 0.42
2.1 2.4
2.0 2.3
0.70 0.80
1.3 1.4
6.2 7.0
2.1 2.4
11.9 13.6
10.1 11.5
1.1 1.2
6.3 7.1
1.9 2.2
0.63 0.74
3.6 4.2
3.2 3.7
0.37 0.42
1.9 2.3
2.9 3.3
0.98 1.1
5.6 6.4
5.9 6.7
0.50 0.57
Average for this period does not include the Meyer-Peter and Muller formula.
91
Fig. 15. Downstream patterns of volume change along the Vedder River for the period 1983 84. The pattern for the original and revised Bagnold
formulae are similar so only one set of results is shown to represent the Bagnold-type equations. (A) field data, (B) original Bagnold formula, (C)
Meyer-Peter and Muller formula, (D) stream power correlation.
Fig. 16. Cumulative distributions of bed load transport for all equations evaluated in this study.
92
Table 5
Calculated gravel transport rates as a percentage of calculated total bed load transport rates (values represent averages of all cross sections)
Original
Rational #1
Rational #2
Stream power
MPM
Average
a
1981 1982
1982 1983
1983 1984
1984 1987
1987 1990
Averagea
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
n/a
0.0
56.7
55.2
55.2
6.9
93.6
53.5
89.0
87.7
87.7
13.8
100.0
75.6
46.4
44.8
44.8
5.9
94.9
47.4
59.8
56.3
56.3
3.3
99.1
55.0
63.0
61.0
61.0
7.5
96.9
Averages for periods 1982 1983, 1983 1984, 1984 1987, and 1987 1990.
Table 6
Total bed load as a percentage of total load
Original
Rational #1
Rational #2
Stream power
MPM
1981 1982
1982 1983
1983 1984
1984 1987
1987 1990
Average
40.3
19.6
58.2
67.6
0.0
71.9
46.3
83.1
76.9
39.4
41.3
18.4
56.3
50.3
39.2
66.7
40.3
79.4
72.3
33.1
63.8
37.4
77.3
71.3
34.4
56.8
32.4
70.9
80.3
29.2
7. Conclusions
7.1. Gravel transport
Gravel transport results for the stream power correlation are quite good in comparison to the other
formulae. This finding is surprising given the extreme
simplicity of this equation; the Bagnold and MPM
equations were derived on the basis of extensive investigation and include a threshold condition. Calculated
transport rates are generally lower than field values for
the Bagnold-type formulae and the MPM formula.
These formulae also fail to capture the relatively gradual decline in transport rates observed in the field
data. Hoey and Sutherland (1991) found that the
original Bagnold equation generally overpredicted
bed load transport rates for braided rivers that were
in equilibrium or aggrading. The Vedder River is situated on an aggrading alluvial fan, yet the original
Bagnold equation underpredicted transport rates in the
braided reaches.
Sensitivity analyses show that only the MPM formula is particularly sensitive to which discharge series
is used in calculations. The fortuitous inclusion of
dredging in the field data for particular time periods
allows for speculation regarding the role of bed structure in gravel transport. The years in which dredging
occurred are exactly the years in which the equations
underestimate transport rates by the greatest amount.
Dredging is expected to loosen the bed structure and,
hence, increase the volume of mobile sediment. Furthermore, natural changes in bed structure over space
and time, which are not accounted for in this study, may
be implicit in the field data. For example, the length of
time between gravel-transporting floods may affect the
strength of the bed structure. Finally, constants in the
equations could be tuned for specific bed conditions in
individual reaches, although no physical basis exists
presently for modifying equations in this manner.
7.2. Total bed load transport
All of the formulae are found to adequately predict
total deposition along the Vedder River, with all
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94
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank several individuals who provided valuable assistance at various stages of this project.
Mike Church and Rob Ferguson provided valuable
information and advice regarding field data for the
Vedder River. Peter Ashmore read a draft of the manuscript and provided thoughtful suggestions. I would
like to thank Sean Willett and Christopher Fuller for
participating in initial discussions. Lynne Campo of the
Water Survey Division, Environment Canada, provided assistance in obtaining the high-frequency discharge data for the Vedder River. An NSERC grant and
a URGC grant to the author provided funding for this
project. The manuscript benefited from the comments
of Basil Gomez and Vincent Neary.
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