Floodplain flows: Interaction Flow - Vegetation

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Jochen Aberle
• Subject Area: Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Limnology, Urban Water Management, Water Chemistry, Integrated Water Resources Management
• Term: from 2007 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 47652897

The aim of the present study consists in the investigation of physical processes governing shape and movement of three-dimensional dunes as well as associated sediment transport in alluvial sand bed channels. Such knowledge is required to provide scientifically based tools for modelling bed form roughness, bed form dynamics, and bed load transport in sand bed rivers. This challenging task is directly tackled by combining theoretical knowledge in statistical description of bed form structure and dynamics with experimental data measured with innovative measurement techniques. Laboratory experiments will be carried out to investigate the structure and dynamics of two- and three-dimensional dunes on the basis of high resolution (spatial and temporal) digital elevation models (DEMs). The DEMs will be analysed using statistical methods, spectral analysis, structure functions, and space-time correlation functions. Relationships describing the structure of the bed, bed form dynamics and bed form dispersion will be developed taking into account hydrodynamic and sedimentological variables. These relationships will be used to develop a statistically based model for the description of three-dimensional bed form geometry, dynamics and associated bed load transport. The approach and the high-quality data will also be used to further develop numerical models.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Professor Dr.-Ing. Andreas Dittrich