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Large river confluence numerical model output (NERC grant NE/I023228/1)

This dataset contains numerical model output of a morphodynamic and sedimentological simulation of a large river confluence based loosely on the Jamuna-Ganges junction in Bangladesh. The work was carried out as part of a joint project between the Universities of Birmingham, Southampton and Exeter. "The sedimentology of fluvial megascours" was a scientific research project funded by NERC. One aspect of the project was to undertake numerical simulations (the data described here) with which to compare with river bed bathymetry data (collected using a multibeam echosounder) and sub bottom seismic profiling data (collected using a surface tow boomer and chirp system). The data has been accepted for a publication in the journal 'Sedimentology' which will be published in 2018 with the title 'The Sedimentology of channel confluences'.

Default

Identification info

Metadata Language
English (en)
Dataset Reference Date ()
2018-05-01
Identifier
http://data.bgs.ac.uk/id/dataHolding/13607328
  University of Birmingham - Professor Greg Sambrook Smith ( School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences )
Birmingham , B15 2TT ,
  University of Birmingham - Professor Greg Sambrook Smith ( School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences )
Birmingham , B15 2TT ,
Maintenance and update frequency
notApplicable
GEMET - INSPIRE themes
  • Geology
BGS Thesaurus of Geosciences
  • Seismic data
  • Sedimentary geology
  • Rivers
  • Bathymetry
Keywords
  • NERC_DDC
Limitations on Public Access
otherRestrictions
Other constraints
no limitations
Other constraints
The dataset is made freely available for access, e.g. via the Internet. Either no third party data / information is contained in the dataset or BGS has secured written permission from the owner(s) of any third party data / information contained in the dataset to make the dataset freely accessible.
Use constraints
otherRestrictions
Other constraints
The copyright of materials derived from the British Geological Survey's work is vested in the Natural Environment Research Council [NERC]. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the prior permission of the copyright holder, via the BGS Intellectual Property Rights Manager. Use by customers of information provided by the BGS, is at the customer's own risk. In view of the disparate sources of information at BGS's disposal, including such material donated to BGS, that BGS accepts in good faith as being accurate, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the quality or accuracy of the information supplied, or to the information's suitability for any use. NERC/BGS accepts no liability whatever in respect of loss, damage, injury or other occurence however caused.
Other constraints
Available under the Open Government Licence subject to the following acknowledgement accompanying the reproduced NERC materials "Contains NERC materials ©NERC [year]"
Topic category
  • Geoscientific information
End date
2018-05-01
 

Spatial Reference System

No information provided.

Distribution Information

Data format
  • DAT files ()

Resource Locator
http://www.bgs.ac.uk/services/ngdc/accessions/index.html#item110053
Resource Locator
http://www.bgs.ac.uk/services/ngdc/citedData/catalogue/94da442e-2027-4ee0-b664-9f251eec681f.html
Resource Locator
http://www.bgs.ac.uk/services/ngdc/accessions/index.html#item110053
Resource Locator
http://www.bgs.ac.uk/services/ngdc/citedData/catalogue/94da442e-2027-4ee0-b664-9f251eec681f.html
 
Quality Scope
nonGeographicDataset
Other
non geographic dataset

Report

Dataset Reference Date ()
2011
Explanation
See the referenced specification
Degree

Report

Dataset Reference Date ()
2010-12-08
Explanation
See http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:323:0011:0102:EN:PDF
Degree
Statement
The morphodynamics and deposits of a large river confluence were simulated using a physically-based, two-dimensional, numerical model (HSTAR) that represents water flow, sediment transport (for two size fractions; sand and silt), bank erosion and floodplain formation. The model has been described in detail and evaluated elsewhere (Nicholas et al., 2013), and shown to be suitable for representing a range of large sand-bed rivers (Nicholas, 2013). In particular, unit bars, the key building block of sand-bed rivers, are an emergent characteristic of the simulations, resulting directly from patterns of modelled erosion and deposition, although it should be noted that smaller-scale bedforms (e.g. dunes and ripples) are not resolved within the model. HSTAR solves the two-dimensional, depth-averaged, shallow water equations written in conservative form. Model equations are solved on a structured grid (resolution δx, δy) within which each grid cell is defined as either active river bed or floodplain (including vegetated islands). For active river bed cells, total sand transport (bedload and suspended load) is modelled using the Engelund-Hansen (1967) transport law. For hydraulic roughness, a constant Chezy value of 50 m0.5s-1 is used in all channels and 15 m0.5s-1 on vegetated surfaces. The model domain was set-up to be broadly comparable to the confluence of the Jamuna and Ganges rivers in Bangladesh. All simulations were conducted using a model domain 66 km long (x direction) by 48 km wide (y direction). This resulted in a model with 1100 × 800 cells, each measuring 60 m long by 60 m wide. The initial width of the two simulated channels upstream of the confluence was 3.6 km and 1.8 km, respectively, with initial channel width downstream of the confluence being c. 4 km. The planform configuration of the model was also similar to the field site, with the channel downstream of the confluence forming a 27° angle to the axis of the major incoming channel. Bank erosion rates are modelled as the product of the bank gradient, the total rate of sediment transport parallel to the bankline, and a dimensionless bank erodibility constant. To capture the planform change observed in the field, the bank erodibility constant was set to be lower (i.e. stronger banks) for the smaller upstream tributary channel and the channel downstream of the confluence, but higher (i.e. weaker banks) for the larger incoming tributary. Finally, the simulated flow regime was also broadly similar to the field site, with low flow and peak discharges for the larger channel of 4000 m3s-1 and 80000 m3s-1, respectively, to reflect the monsoon-dominated regime. Flows in the smaller channel were 50% of that in the main channel. Simulated inflow conditions consisted of a series of regular symmetrical hydrographs, where discharge (Q ) as a function of time is: Q = Qlow + (Qmax - Qlow) ((1+sin(2?T-?/2))/2)3.5 where T is time normalised by the hydrograph duration (i.e. T increases from 0 to 1 over the course of the hydrograph), Qlow is the low flow discharge, and Qmax is the flood peak discharge. Simulations ran for a sequence of 150 annual flood hydrographs. The data consists of 150 output files, one for each simulated flood event. Each file has 6 columns of data; 1) x coordinate (m) 2) y coordinate (m) 3) elevation (m) - with 999 = no data (effectively, not an active part of the model domain) 4) depth (m) 5) unit discharge in x direction (m^2s^-1) 6) unit discharge in y direction (m^2s^-1)

Metadata

File identifier
6d044c3e-f433-3b14-e054-002128a47908 XML
Metadata Language
English (en)
Resource type
nonGeographicDataset
Hierarchy level name
non geographic dataset
Metadata Date
2023-03-19
Metadata standard name
UK GEMINI
Metadata standard version
2.3
  British Geological Survey
Environmental Science Centre,Keyworth , NOTTINGHAM , NOTTINGHAMSHIRE , NG12 5GG , United Kingdom
+44 115 936 3100
 
 

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