A METHOD FOR CHARACTERIZING LONGITUDINAL IRREGULARITY IN RIVER CHANNELS

A method for analysing longitudinal variations in cross-sectional shap e and channel slope is developed and demonstrated with an application to the Wimmera River, Australia. The method involves characterising th e geometry and spatial location of individual cross-sections using fou r parameters and then conducting statistical analyses of the parameter s from a set of cross-sections. The method extends the general charact erisation of natural channels, allows examination of the spatial chara cteristics of stream channels, allows stochastic generation of stream channel cross-sections and can provide input into hydraulic and stream habitat analyses. The application to the Wimmera River identifies lon gitudinal trends and variability in cross-section characteristics, inc luding quantification of differences in channel characteristics associ ated with a quasi-periodic switching between two different channel pla n forms (single-thread and anastomosing). (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B. V.