Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Design Example: Maintaining Level of an Embankment01:19

Design Example: Maintaining Level of an Embankment

261
Constructing a roadway embankment over uneven terrain requires precise leveling to ensure stability and proper drainage. Surveyors use a leveling instrument and staff to calculate ground elevations and determine the required fill material at each point along the embankment alignment.The process begins by positioning a leveling instrument near a benchmark with a known elevation. A backsight reading establishes the instrument height, which serves as a reference for subsequent measurements. A...
261
Gradually Varying Flow01:29

Gradually Varying Flow

241
Gradually varying flow (GVF) in open channels describes situations where water depth changes slowly along the channel due to factors like non-uniform bed slope, channel shape variations, or obstructions. This flow type occurs when the depth adjusts gradually to balance gravitational forces, shear forces, and energy requirements, resulting in a low rate of depth change.Characteristics of Gradually Varying FlowGVF is commonly observed in natural streams, rivers, and canals, where flow depth...
241
Design Example: Analyzing Capacity Contours for Flood Risk Assessment01:17

Design Example: Analyzing Capacity Contours for Flood Risk Assessment

194
Flood risk assessment involves careful planning and analysis to ensure the safety of communities near water retention structures. Capacity contours are a vital tool in this process, as they illustrate the potential spread of water at specific levels in a given area. In the context of building a bund across a small valley, these contours play a critical role in evaluating the safety of nearby residential areas.In this example, the bund is intended to store stormwater in the valley. The engineers...
194
Rapidly Varying Flow01:24

Rapidly Varying Flow

247
Rapidly varying flow (RVF) in open channels is characterized by abrupt changes in flow depth over a short distance, with the rate of depth change relative to distance often approaching unity. These flows are inherently complex due to their transient and multi-dimensional nature, making exact analysis difficult. However, approximate solutions using simplified models provide valuable insights into their behavior.Key Features of Rapidly Varying FlowRVF is commonly observed in scenarios involving...
247
Design Example: Creating a Hydraulic Model of a Dam Spillway01:21

Design Example: Creating a Hydraulic Model of a Dam Spillway

492
Scaled hydraulic models of dam spillways provide a practical way to replicate and study the intricate flow dynamics of these structures. Often built to a 1:15 ratio, these models allow for observing critical water behavior, such as velocity distribution, flow patterns, and energy dissipation.
492
Conservation of Mass in Moving, Nondeforming Control Volume01:14

Conservation of Mass in Moving, Nondeforming Control Volume

1.2K
Stormwater detention basins are essential in managing runoff during heavy rainfall, particularly in urban areas where impervious surfaces increase the risk of flooding. Understanding the conservation of mass in these systems allows engineers to optimize basin performance, balancing inflow, outflow, and water storage.
In the context of a detention basin, the conservation of mass states that the total mass of water entering the basin must equal the mass leaving the basin plus any accumulation of...
1.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Extreme river flood exposes latent erosion risk.

Nature·2025
Same author

Mangrove removal exacerbates estuarine infilling through landscape-scale bio-morphodynamic feedbacks.

Nature communications·2023
Same author

Measuring and Manipulating the Rhine River Branches: Interactions of Theory and Embodied Understanding in Eighteenth Century River Hydraulics.

Berichte zur Wissenschaftsgeschichte·2023
Same author

Early indicators of tidal ecosystem shifts in estuaries.

Nature communications·2023
Same authorSame journal

Modelling the effects of normal faulting on alluvial river meandering.

Earth surface processes and landforms·2022
Same authorSame journal

Alluvial connectivity in multi-channel networks in rivers and estuaries.

Earth surface processes and landforms·2022

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 22, 2025

A Simple Planting Technique for Re-establishing Trees Where Frequent Inundation Occurs
04:41

A Simple Planting Technique for Re-establishing Trees Where Frequent Inundation Occurs

Published on: January 26, 2018

6.4K

Natural levee evolution in vegetated fluvial-tidal environments.

Marcio Boechat Albernaz1, Lonneke Roelofs1, Harm Jan Pierik1

  • 1Faculty of Geosciences, Department of Physical Geography Utrecht University Princetonlaan 8A Utrecht 3584 CB The Netherlands.

Earth Surface Processes and Landforms
|January 11, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Natural levees shape river and delta landscapes. Vegetation and water levels significantly influence levee formation, crevasse dynamics, and floodbasin evolution in fluvial-tidal systems.

Keywords:
crevassesdeltaseco‐morphodynamicestuarygeomorphologyleveesvegetation

More Related Videos

Vegetated Treatment Systems for Removing Contaminants Associated with Surface Water Toxicity in Agriculture and Urban Runoff
08:49

Vegetated Treatment Systems for Removing Contaminants Associated with Surface Water Toxicity in Agriculture and Urban Runoff

Published on: May 15, 2017

10.9K
Soil Lysimeter Excavation for Coupled Hydrological, Geochemical, and Microbiological Investigations
10:30

Soil Lysimeter Excavation for Coupled Hydrological, Geochemical, and Microbiological Investigations

Published on: September 11, 2016

11.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 22, 2025

A Simple Planting Technique for Re-establishing Trees Where Frequent Inundation Occurs
04:41

A Simple Planting Technique for Re-establishing Trees Where Frequent Inundation Occurs

Published on: January 26, 2018

6.4K
Vegetated Treatment Systems for Removing Contaminants Associated with Surface Water Toxicity in Agriculture and Urban Runoff
08:49

Vegetated Treatment Systems for Removing Contaminants Associated with Surface Water Toxicity in Agriculture and Urban Runoff

Published on: May 15, 2017

10.9K
Soil Lysimeter Excavation for Coupled Hydrological, Geochemical, and Microbiological Investigations
10:30

Soil Lysimeter Excavation for Coupled Hydrological, Geochemical, and Microbiological Investigations

Published on: September 11, 2016

11.1K

Area of Science:

  • Earth Surface Processes
  • Geomorphology
  • Coastal Dynamics

Background:

  • Natural levees are crucial geomorphic features in riverine, deltaic, and tidal environments, influencing channel-floodbasin connectivity and delta-scale evolution.
  • Existing research on levees is limited, particularly concerning the role of vegetation and variations in fluvial-to-coastal transitions.
  • Understanding levee dynamics is essential for managing deltas and estuaries, especially under rising sea levels.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of fluvial-tidal conditions, sediment availability, and vegetation on levee characteristics.
  • To analyze how these factors influence floodbasin evolution and geomorphic processes.
  • To provide insights into levee formation and its role in wetland infill and estuary development.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted 60 large-scale, idealized morphodynamic simulations using Delft3D over a century.
  • Systematically explored various fluvial-tidal boundary conditions, sediment supply rates, and vegetation types (sparse wood vs. dense reed).
  • Compared simulation results with a global dataset of natural levee dimensions.

Main Results:

  • Levee height is primarily controlled by maximum water level, given adequate sediment supply.
  • Discharge fluctuations enhance levee width and crevasse formation, leading to floodbasin infill.
  • Dense vegetation (reed) dampens tides, reduces floodbasin accretion, and promotes downstream levee growth, potentially merging with coastal barriers.

Conclusions:

  • Levee and crevasse formation, influenced by vegetation and hydrological conditions, play a key role in filling fluvio-tidal wetlands.
  • Vegetation type significantly alters geomorphic processes, from increasing crevasses (sparse) to dampening tides and promoting levee progradation (dense).
  • Findings offer valuable insights for geological reconstructions and adaptive management strategies for deltas and estuaries facing sea-level rise.