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Amplification of downstream flood stage due to damming of fine-grained rivers

Author

Listed:
  • Hongbo Ma

    (University of California at Irvine)

  • Jeffrey A. Nittrouer

    (Texas Tech University)

  • Xudong Fu

    (Tsinghua University)

  • Gary Parker

    (University of Illinois
    University of Illinois)

  • Yuanfeng Zhang

    (Yellow River Institute of Hydraulic Research)

  • Yuanjian Wang

    (Yellow River Institute of Hydraulic Research)

  • Yanjun Wang

    (Tsinghua University)

  • Michael P. Lamb

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Julia Cisneros

    (University of Illinois)

  • Jim Best

    (University of Illinois
    University of Illinois
    University of Illinois
    University of Illinois)

  • Daniel R. Parsons

    (University of Hull)

  • Baosheng Wu

    (Tsinghua University)

Abstract

River dams provide many benefits, including flood control. However, due to constantly evolving channel morphology, downstream conveyance of floodwaters following dam closure is difficult to predict. Here, we test the hypothesis that the incised, enlarged channel downstream of dams provides enhanced water conveyance, using a case study from the lower Yellow River, China. We find that, although flood stage is lowered for small floods, counterintuitively, flood stage downstream of a dam can be amplified for moderate and large floods. This arises because bed incision is accompanied by sediment coarsening, which facilitates development of large dunes that increase flow resistance and reduce velocity relative to pre-dam conditions. Our findings indicate the underlying mechanism for such flood amplification may occur in >80% of fine-grained rivers, and suggest the need to reconsider flood control strategies in such rivers worldwide.

Suggested Citation

  • Hongbo Ma & Jeffrey A. Nittrouer & Xudong Fu & Gary Parker & Yuanfeng Zhang & Yuanjian Wang & Yanjun Wang & Michael P. Lamb & Julia Cisneros & Jim Best & Daniel R. Parsons & Baosheng Wu, 2022. "Amplification of downstream flood stage due to damming of fine-grained rivers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-30730-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30730-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Samuel E. Munoz & Liviu Giosan & Matthew D. Therrell & Jonathan W. F. Remo & Zhixiong Shen & Richard M. Sullivan & Charlotte Wiman & Michelle O’Donnell & Jeffrey P. Donnelly, 2018. "Climatic control of Mississippi River flood hazard amplified by river engineering," Nature, Nature, vol. 556(7699), pages 95-98, April.
    2. T. N. Palmer & J. Räisänen, 2002. "Quantifying the risk of extreme seasonal precipitation events in a changing climate," Nature, Nature, vol. 415(6871), pages 512-514, January.
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