Meander Wavelength of Alluvial Rivers

Abstract

Data on river channel and sediment characteristics were collected at 36 cross sections of stable alluvial river channels in Australia and western United States. These data demonstrate that the meander wavelength of a river is dependent not only on water discharge, but also on the type of sediment load moved through the channel. The meander wavelength of rivers that are transporting a high proportion of their total sediment load as both sand and gravel will be greater than the meander wavelengths of channels of similar discharge which are transporting mainly fine sediment loads.