Publication
Title
Relation between resistance characteristics due to aquatic weed growth and the hydraulic capacity of the river Aa
Author
Abstract
Vegetation growth drastically influences water levels and flow patterns in lowland rivers. As soon as plants start to grow in spring, the flow resistance increases to reach a maximum in early summer. The universities of Ghent and Antwerp are conducting scientific research in the river Aa in Belgium in order to better understand the relation between aquatic weed growth and the hydraulic capacity of the river and to come to a more accurate determination of the different influencing parameters. Velocity measurements are performed in multiple cross-sections on a regular basis and studied. Discharge calculations are based on velocity measurements, which deliver important information about structural characteristics of the river, presence of vegetation, etc. Removing the vegetation allows for determining species and vegetation density as well as for studying the influence of plants on flow distribution and patterns. It is shown that the resistance coefficient, influenced by the amount of biomass, is an important parameter for the hydraulic characteristics of the river. The presence of macrophytes and their blockage characteristics are studied and a relation between discharge, biomass and resistance coefficient is set up. This leads to more reliable results in the application of hydraulic models for river management and river restoration purposes.
Language
English
Source (journal)
River research and applications. - Bognor Regis
Publication
Bognor Regis : 2009
ISSN
1535-1459
DOI
10.1002/RRA.1240
Volume/pages
25 :10 (2009) , p. 1287-1303
ISI
000272759300006
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 24.08.2009
Last edited 25.05.2022
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