Dynamics of River-Sediment Delivery and Turbidity Current
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DYNAMICS OF RIVER-SEDIMENT DELIVERY AND TURBIDITY CURRENT FLOW OBSERVED IN LILLOOET LAKE, BRITISH COLUMBIA A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Special Case Master of Science in Geography University of Regina By Duncan Shayne MacDonald Regina, Saskatchewan April, 2019 Copyright 2019: D.S. MacDonald UNIVERSITY OF REGINA FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH SUPERVISORY AND EXAMINING COMMITTEE Duncan Shayne MacDonald, candidate for the degree of Special Case Master of Science in Geography, has presented a thesis titled, Dynamics of River-Sediment Delivery and Turbidity Current Flow Observed in Lillooet Lake, British Columbia, in an oral examination held on April 11, 2019. The following committee members have found the thesis acceptable in form and content, and that the candidate demonstrated satisfactory knowledge of the subject material. External Examiner: *Dr. Michael Märker, University of Pavia Supervisor: Dr. Kyle Hodder, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies Committee Member: Dr. Ulrike Hardenbicker, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies Committee Member: Dr. Maria Velez-Caicedo, Department of Geology Chair of Defense: Dr. Mark Vanderwel, Department of Biology *via SKYPE Lillooet-Green River delta, December 1968. Source: R. Gilbert, 1973. Original source: BCFS Photo 17140. Lillooet-Green River delta, June 2015. Source: Google Earth Pro V. 7.3.2.5491. [June 07, 2015]. Lillooet-Green River delta. Abstract A study linking sediment-discharge dynamics and lake-bottom properties to plunging river flow was undertaken at Lillooet Lake, British Columbia. This study was initiated to understand the dynamics of turbidity currents that plunge off the front of the Lillooet-Green River delta and how those factors have an influence on turbidity current development. Understanding how turbidity currents behave is important to understanding the sedimentary budget and hydrology of lakes and reservoirs. To achieve the objectives of understanding how sediment-discharge dynamics and lake-bottom properties influence the development of turbidity currents in Lillooet Lake, field monitoring was undertaken for 10 days in July 2015. Field monitoring consisted of monitoring river stage (discharge), river temperature, and suspended sediment concentration as well as monitoring lake currents using an aDcp and a moored lake-temperature array. Water profiles were taken along the front of the delta. Changes to the subaqueous delta were monitored using single-beam sonar and the surface of the delta was monitored using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. During this study, record-low discharge and lake levels were encountered which had a detrimental effect on monitoring flow properties. The resultant analysis provided several key observations based on the data collected during this study, given these conditions. (1) The fluvial sediment-discharge relationship had negative hysteresis, possibly due to the decoupled nature of the sources of sediment and meltwater in Lillooet-Green River. (2) The lower boundary of turbidity current showed pulsating velocity through time, thought to be the result of shearing at the boundary between the current and ambient lake water. (3) A benthic trough was observed in front of the plunge i line lobe that is believed to be a path for preferential flow as well as an eroded surface from turbidity currents originating from Lillooet-Green River delta. The findings indicate that even at low-flows the sediment laden water plunging off the Lillooet-Green River delta can produce interflows and underflows described as turbidity currents. Plunging water appears to be more dynamic than has previously been shown which is illustrated by the gradient of water velocity and changes to the delta slopes of Lillooet-Green River delta. ii Acknowledgements Financial support for this research was provided by the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, and the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Regina. I would like to express my appreciation for everyone who helped me get to this point. I would like to thank Dr. Kyle Hodder, my supervisor and mentor who provided countless hours of support in the field, the lab, and in the office to compile this thesis. I greatly appreciate his guidance and patience in working through this project. I would also like to thank Bob Nodge, my field and laboratory assistant. Without his ingenuity and resilience this project would not have been possible. I would also like to express my gratitude to my defence committee, including Dr. Ulrike Hardenbicker, Dr. Maria Velez, and Professor Michael Maerker. Most importantly, I would like to thank my family and friends who have been incredibly supportive of me through this process and helped guide me through every step of the way. I would especially like to thank my fiancé, Mandy, who has provided an amazing amount of love and support throughout the thesis writing process. Without her continued encouragement and support I would not have got as far as I have. iii Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................ i Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ iii Table of Contents ............................................................................................................... iv List of Figures .................................................................................................................. viii List of Tables .....................................................................................................................xv List of Symbols ................................................................................................................ xvi List of Equations ............................................................................................................ xviii 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................1 2 Literature Review .........................................................................................................5 2.1 Fluvial hydrology ..................................................................................................5 2.1.1 Hydrometeorology ............................................................................................... 5 2.1.2 Flow regime ......................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Sediment transport...............................................................................................10 2.2.1 Suspended sediment ........................................................................................... 10 2.2.2 Diurnal Hysteresis .............................................................................................. 12 2.2.3 Mechanics of sediment transport........................................................................ 14 2.3 River deltas ..........................................................................................................16 2.3.1 Delta erosion and aggradation ............................................................................ 18 2.4 Lacustrine processes ............................................................................................19 2.4.1 Thermal stratification ......................................................................................... 19 2.4.2 The Coriolis Force.............................................................................................. 22 2.5 Turbidity currents ................................................................................................23 2.5.1 Classification of turbidity currents ..................................................................... 23 2.5.1 Examples of turbidity currents ........................................................................... 25 iv 2.5.2 Plunging inflow .................................................................................................. 26 2.5.3 Flow characteristics ............................................................................................ 29 2.5.4 Turbidity current flow velocity and travel lengths ............................................. 31 2.5.5 Influence of Coriolis on turbidity currents ......................................................... 34 2.5.6 Flow interactions with the bed ........................................................................... 34 2.5.7 Measurements and parameterization .................................................................. 36 2.6 Conclusions .........................................................................................................38 3 Study area ...................................................................................................................40 3.1 Upper-Lillooet Basin ...........................................................................................41 3.2 Lillooet Glacier ...................................................................................................44 3.3 Slopes processes ..................................................................................................44 3.3.1 2010 Mount Meager landslide ..........................................................................