The processes and interactions that determine the width of a river channel remain a fundamental area of investigation in geomorphology. An increasing appreciation of the capacity of riparian vegetation to alter fluvial processes, and thus influence channel form, has highlighted the need to include vegetation in these analyses. However, a disconnect exists between the small spatial and temporal scales over which the linkages among flow patterns, sediment, and plants are evaluated and the larger spatial and temporal scales in which river systems operate. In this dissertation, I strove to identify some of the key mechanisms by which vegetation affects channel width. I worked to reconcile the issue of scale by developing a novel tool that resolves patch-scale (sub-meter) patterns of hydraulic roughness over the reach scale. While the approach can be generalized to evaluate any vegetated floodplain, the multi-scalar model was specifically applied to stands dominated by the non-native riparian shrub, tamarisk, that invaded the riparian corridor of southwestern US rivers during the past century. I focused my analyses on the lower Yampa River in western Colorado. Tamarisk colonized the Yampa in the absence of other environmental perturbations. As a result, adjustments to channel form may be linked to an altered vegetation community. From a careful geomorphic and vegetation reconstruction of the Yampa, I determined that tamarisk was the driving force in channel narrowing. Application of the multi-scalar model of vegetation resistance to the Yampa enabled me to reconstruct the changing hydraulic conditions as tamarisk established and the channel narrowed over time. This hydraulic reconstruction furthered our understanding of the interactions among vegetation recruitment patterns, the increased hydraulic resistance, and the changing flow and sediment transport field. Positive feedbacks between vegetation and geomorphic change created additional areas within the channel where tamarisk could establish, and thus accelerated the rate of channel narrowing. However, these feedbacks also changed the importance of common and large floods for vegetation establishment and sediment transport. Application of this process-based understanding to future flow regimes will help managers anticipate locations along the channel that are susceptible to vegetation encroachment and changes to channel width.

The diploma thesis deals with the propagation of a weir (channel) width on the weir capacity. The influence rate is analyzed by laboratory measurements on models with a weir (channel) width of 0,02 m to a width of 0,50 m. Different heads are analyzed and different discharges that calculate the discharge coefficient. The results are compared with previous works, especially with the work of Kindsvater and Carter (1957) and of Schoder and Turner (1929), where the same procedures are used to calculate discharge coefficients. The thesis contains a theoretical introduction to the problem of thin-plate weirs and the problem of the formation of the boundary layer in the flow of liquid, following with the analytical part. In the analytical part, the results of measurements, their comparison, and evaluation are published. The work is completed with evaluation and recommendations.

For decades the Upper Cretaceous Lower Tuscaloosa Formation of the U.S. Gulf Coast has been considered an onshore hydrocarbon play with no equivalent offshore deposits. A better understanding of the Lower Tuscaloosa sequence stratigraphic and paleogeographic framework, source-to-sink depositional environments, magnitude of fluvial systems, regional trends in reservoir quality, and structural influences on its deposition along with newly acquired data from offshore wells has changed this decades-long paradigm of the Lower Tuscaloosa as simply an onshore play. The mid-Cenomanian unconformity, underlying the Lower Tuscaloosa, formed an extensive regional network of incised valleys. This incision and accompanying low accommodation allowed for sediment bypass and deposition of over 330 m thick gravity-driven sand-rich deposits over 400 km from their equivalent shelf edge. Subsequently a transgressive systems tract comprised of four fluvial sequences in the Lower Tuscaloosa Massive sand and an overlying estuarine sequence (Stringer sand) filled the incised valleys. Both wave- and tide-dominated deltaic facies of the Lower Tuscaloosa are located at the mouths of incised valleys proximal to the shelf edge. Deltaic and estuarine depositional environments were interpreted from impoverished trace fossil suites of the Cruziana Ichnofacies and detailed sedimentological observations. The location and trend of valleys are controlled by basement structures. Lower Tuscaloosa rivers were 3.8m – 7.8m deep and 145m – 721m wide comparable to the Siwalik Group outcrop and the modern Missouri River. These systems were capable of transporting large amounts of sediment indicating the Lower Tuscaloosa was capable of transporting large amounts of sediments to the shelf edge for resedimentation into the deep offshore. Anomalously high porosity (>25%) and permeability (>1200md) in the Lower Tuscaloosa at stratigraphic depths below 20,000 ft. are influenced by chlorite coating the detrital grains. Chlorite coatings block quartz nucleation sites inhibiting quartz cementation. Chlorite coats in the Lower Tuscaloosa are controlled by the presence and abundance of volcanic rock fragments supplying the ions needed for the formation of chlorite. Chlorite decrease to the east in sediments derived from the Appalachian Mountains. An increase in chlorite in westward samples correlates with an increase of volcanic rock fragments derived from the Ouachita Mountains. / text

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:30:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 986817 bytes, checksum: e4ef3e7967a1c4ddb759b319e3255b70 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-07-06 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The longitudinal distribution of adult Odonata was examined in streams of different channel width in the Pindaíba River Basin, in the municipalities of Barra do Garças and Nova Xavantina. The general purpose was to evaluate the existence of environmental gradients that affect the longitudinal distribution of Odonata, and to establish testable predictions to this predator group regarding the River Continuum Concept. Two hypotheses were tested: (1) increasing channel width longitudinally along the basin causes an increase of light input, and, assuming restraints and distinct abilities, there would be a decrease of Zygoptera and increase of Anisoptera species richness. (2) Dragonflies are affected by the gradient generated through river continuum mechanisms, increasing species richness in medium-sized streams. I sampled 19 sites in rivers and streams from 1st to 6th orders, and in each site I sample once in the dry and once in the rainy seasons. Quantitative survey was conducted through scan method in fixed areas, counting visually on Odonata adults along 100 meters of the waterbody, divided into 20 stretches of 5 meters each. Channel width and depth measures were taken at the beginning, middle, and end of each 20-meter region. A total of 549 individuals were collected, distributed in one family, 13 genera and 17 species of Anisoptera, and six families, 15 genera and 30 species of Zygoptera. The abundance and proportion of Zygoptera species decrease while Anisoptera increase with channel width and mean depth of rivers and streams. The channel width was considered the best predictor of Odonata species distribution. The distribution of Odonata, species richness, did not corroborate the hypotheses of higher species richness in the middle courses of streams. The results obtained in this study confirm the thermoregulation hypothesis as a determining factor in the distribution of Odonata species in the system. / A distribuição longitudinal de Odonata adultos foi avaliada em riachos de diferentes larguras na Bacia do Rio Pindaíba nos municípios de Barra do Garças e Nova Xavantina-MT. O objetivo geral foi avaliar a existência de gradientes ambientais influenciando a distribuição longitudinal de Odonata, estabelecendo predições testáveis para o grupo predador sobre o Conceito de Continuum fluvial. Foram testadas duas hipóteses: (1) o aumento da largura do canal longitudinalmente na bacia causa um aumento da entrada de luz e, assumindo restrições e habilidades distintas, haveria uma diminuição da riqueza de espécies de Zygoptera e aumento da riqueza de Anisoptera. (2) as libélulas respondem ao gradiente gerado pelo mecanismo do continuum fluvial, aumentando de riqueza nos riachos de tamanho intermediário. Foram amostrados 19 trechos em oito rios e riachos de 1a a 6a ordem, sendo que em cada um dos trechos foram efetuadas duas coletas, uma na estação seca e outra na estação chuvosa. A amostragem quantitativa foi feita pelo método de varredura com áreas fixas que consistiu na contagem visual do número de adultos em 100 metros do corpo d água, divididos em 20 segmentos de cinco metros. As medidas de largura e profundidade do canal foram tomadas no início, meio e final de cada segmento de 20 metros. Um total de 549 indivíduos foi coletado, pertencentes a uma família, 13 gêneros e 17 espécies de Anisoptera, e seis famílias, 15 gêneros e 30 espécies de Zygoptera. A abundância e a proporção de espécies de Zygoptera diminuem enquanto as de Anisoptera aumentam em relação à largura e a profundidade média dos rios e riachos. A largura foi considerada o melhor preditor da distribuição de espécies de Odonata. A distribuição de Odonata, considerando agregadamente Zygoptera e Anisoptera, não corrobora a hipótese de maior riqueza nos trechos médios dos riachos. Os resultados desse estudo suportaram a hipótese de termorregulação como fator determinante da distribuição das espécies de Odonata no sistema.