Floodplain Surface‐Water Circulation Dynamics: Congaree River, South Carolina, USA
Abstract A robustly calibrated and validated hydrodynamic model depicts flow patterns over a topographically complex floodplain with a heterogeneous main channel levee. Simulations highlight floodplain inundation dynamics for two conditions, the passage of sub‐bankfull and overbank flood waves. Sub‐...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Water Resources Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2022WR032982 |
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| author | Shailesh van derSteeg Raymond Torres Enrica Viparelli Haiqing Xu Edwin Elias Jessica C. Sullivan |
| author_facet | Shailesh van derSteeg Raymond Torres Enrica Viparelli Haiqing Xu Edwin Elias Jessica C. Sullivan |
| author_sort | Shailesh van derSteeg |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract A robustly calibrated and validated hydrodynamic model depicts flow patterns over a topographically complex floodplain with a heterogeneous main channel levee. Simulations highlight floodplain inundation dynamics for two conditions, the passage of sub‐bankfull and overbank flood waves. Sub‐bankfull inundation commences with the passage of the flood wave crest beyond the lower elevation levee breaches, and floodplain wetting is guided by the channel network. Hence, the upstream sub‐bankfull inundation area expands while much of the downstream floodplain remains dry. The onset of overbank flow is spatially variable but becomes continuous, and the through‐bank channels persist as preferential pathways that produce higher velocity flows several kilometers inland. Meanwhile, near‐stagnant zones develop between through‐bank channel mouths, where water is temporarily stored and routed to the channel network. Also, 48% of the inundation water is from the river while 52% enters the study area from the upstream floodplain. Overall, floodplain wetting and draining processes significantly influence flow direction, and characteristics of the flood wave over the floodplain surface such that a single stage in the main channel does not uniquely define floodplain flow hydraulics. Given these findings we propose that assessments of floodplain hydraulic connectivity account for the effects of heterogeneous levee structure and intra‐floodplain exchanges, as well as the typical flow thresholds associated with submergence and emergence of topography. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-11f20ad5f6064ae6b8c07dfa87e83d90 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 0043-1397 1944-7973 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water Resources Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-11f20ad5f6064ae6b8c07dfa87e83d902025-06-26T10:43:15ZengWileyWater Resources Research0043-13971944-79732023-01-01591n/an/a10.1029/2022WR032982Floodplain Surface‐Water Circulation Dynamics: Congaree River, South Carolina, USAShailesh van derSteeg0Raymond Torres1Enrica Viparelli2Haiqing Xu3Edwin Elias4Jessica C. Sullivan5School of Earth, Ocean and Environment (SEOE) University of South Carolina Columbia SC USASchool of Earth, Ocean and Environment (SEOE) University of South Carolina Columbia SC USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of South Carolina Columbia SC USASchool of Natural Resources and the Environment University of Arizona Tucson AZ USADeltares Delft The NetherlandsDepartment of Biology & Geology University of South Carolina Aiken Aiken SC USAAbstract A robustly calibrated and validated hydrodynamic model depicts flow patterns over a topographically complex floodplain with a heterogeneous main channel levee. Simulations highlight floodplain inundation dynamics for two conditions, the passage of sub‐bankfull and overbank flood waves. Sub‐bankfull inundation commences with the passage of the flood wave crest beyond the lower elevation levee breaches, and floodplain wetting is guided by the channel network. Hence, the upstream sub‐bankfull inundation area expands while much of the downstream floodplain remains dry. The onset of overbank flow is spatially variable but becomes continuous, and the through‐bank channels persist as preferential pathways that produce higher velocity flows several kilometers inland. Meanwhile, near‐stagnant zones develop between through‐bank channel mouths, where water is temporarily stored and routed to the channel network. Also, 48% of the inundation water is from the river while 52% enters the study area from the upstream floodplain. Overall, floodplain wetting and draining processes significantly influence flow direction, and characteristics of the flood wave over the floodplain surface such that a single stage in the main channel does not uniquely define floodplain flow hydraulics. Given these findings we propose that assessments of floodplain hydraulic connectivity account for the effects of heterogeneous levee structure and intra‐floodplain exchanges, as well as the typical flow thresholds associated with submergence and emergence of topography.https://doi.org/10.1029/2022WR032982floodplaincirculationwettingdryinghydraulic connectivityintra floodplain flow |
| spellingShingle | Shailesh van derSteeg Raymond Torres Enrica Viparelli Haiqing Xu Edwin Elias Jessica C. Sullivan Floodplain Surface‐Water Circulation Dynamics: Congaree River, South Carolina, USA Water Resources Research floodplain circulation wetting drying hydraulic connectivity intra floodplain flow |
| title | Floodplain Surface‐Water Circulation Dynamics: Congaree River, South Carolina, USA |
| title_full | Floodplain Surface‐Water Circulation Dynamics: Congaree River, South Carolina, USA |
| title_fullStr | Floodplain Surface‐Water Circulation Dynamics: Congaree River, South Carolina, USA |
| title_full_unstemmed | Floodplain Surface‐Water Circulation Dynamics: Congaree River, South Carolina, USA |
| title_short | Floodplain Surface‐Water Circulation Dynamics: Congaree River, South Carolina, USA |
| title_sort | floodplain surface water circulation dynamics congaree river south carolina usa |
| topic | floodplain circulation wetting drying hydraulic connectivity intra floodplain flow |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2022WR032982 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shaileshvandersteeg floodplainsurfacewatercirculationdynamicscongareeriversouthcarolinausa AT raymondtorres floodplainsurfacewatercirculationdynamicscongareeriversouthcarolinausa AT enricaviparelli floodplainsurfacewatercirculationdynamicscongareeriversouthcarolinausa AT haiqingxu floodplainsurfacewatercirculationdynamicscongareeriversouthcarolinausa AT edwinelias floodplainsurfacewatercirculationdynamicscongareeriversouthcarolinausa AT jessicacsullivan floodplainsurfacewatercirculationdynamicscongareeriversouthcarolinausa |