The morphology, 3D flow structure and sediment dynamics of a large river confluence: the Rio Parana and Rio Paraguay, NE Argentina

摘要

River channel confluences are ubiquitous features of all fluvial networks and represent sites of complex, three-dimensional flow and sediment dynamics. Current understanding of these sites is based largely on laboratory experiments and study of small-scale natural junctions. These have identified the nature of coherent flow structures at junctions and their controls. This paper reports the initial findings of a study of one of the Worlds' largest river channel confluences: the Rio Parana and Rio Paraguay in NE Argentina. This study reports and examines the results obtained, including the detailed morphology of the confluence, 3D flow structures in the confluence zone and the sediment dynamics of the region. The results allows us to determine the extent to which conclusions reached from smaller scale studies can be extended to larger spatial scales, and therefore permits an investigation into how this complex scaling impinges upon the processes at river channel confluences.