Flow Hydraulics, Bedforms and Macroturbulence of Squamish River Estuary, British Columbia
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FLOW HYDRAULICS, BEDFORMS AND MACROTURBULENCE OF SQUAMISH RIVER ESTUARY, BRITISH COLUMBIA C. Scott Babakaiff B.Sc. University of British Columbia 1991 THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE in the Department of Geography OC. Scott Babakaiff Simon Fraser University December 1993 All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. APPROVAL Name: Scott Curtis Babakaiff Degree: Master of Science Title of Thesis: Row Hydraulics, Bedforms And Macroturbulence Of Squamish River Estuary, British Columbia Examining Committee: Chair: A.C.B. Roberts, Associate Professor L. Lesack Assistant Professor Mr. K.' Re,HydroloBst Northwest Hydraulics Dr. M.A. Church, Professor Department of Geography University of British Columbia External Examiner Date Approved: December 6.1993 i i PARTIAL COPYRIGHT LICENSE I hereby grant to Simon Fraser University the right to lend my thesis, project or extended essay (the title of which is shown below) to users of the Simon Fraser University Library, and to make partial or single copies only for such users or in response to a request from the library of any other university, or other educational institution, on its own behalf or for one of its users. I further agree that permission for multiple copying of this work for scholarly purposes may be granted by me or the Dean of Graduate Studies. It is understood that copying or publication of this work for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. Title of Thesis/Project/Extended Essay Flow Hydraulics, Bedforms And Macroturbulence Of Sauamish River Estuary. British Columbia Author: (signature) Scott Curtis Babakaiff (name) Abstract Recent studies emphasize that a better understanding of relations between sediment transport, riverine/estuarine flows and macroturbulence will improve predictions of flow resistance and sediment transport. Macroturbulent features (e.g. boils) have been related to specific bedform or hydraulic conditions which are found in Squamish River estuary. Study aims included: 1) establishing predictive models for bedform parameters based on hydraulic and tidal variables and 2) relating boil characteristics (e.g. period, sediment entrainment) to hydraulic, tidal and bedform conditions. Predictive models for mean bedform-height (h) and wavelength (w) explained up to 75% of the variance in h and w. Outliers tend to occur on days of tidal-height maximas or minimas in the fortnightly tidal cycle. Bedform h is more sensitive to flow variations than w, and this sensitivity is inversely related to water depth. Observations of boil production, morphology, intensity and duration indicate that there are two types of boils in the estuary. Boil-production mechanisms could not be determined, but scaling parameters for both types are suggested. As h >0.5-0.6m, the relation with w becomes strongly linear, and Type 1 boil intensity and sediment entrainment also increase sharply. This may suggest that bedforms become three-dimensional as scour holes form on the lee side. Sediment entrainment within Type I boils is also noted to be dependent on water depth. Type 1 boil period (t) also decreases rapidly as relative roughness (RR) increases, becoming asymptotic at t= 1- 10s as RR ~0.2. Time series of streamwise current-speed display patterns also noted in simultaneous video footage of Type 2 boil eruptions at the water surface. Correlation of the time series suggests that boil period is not governed by speed, but there may be a feedback relation such that intense boil activity within the water column increases flow resistance, diminishing current speed and affecting boil production. To my father, for all the inspiration and encouragement I've ever needed. Ouotation "That's the whole problem with science. You've got a bunch of empiricists trying to describe things of unimaginable wonder." Calvin June 21, 1992 Thanks to my senior supervisor, Dr. Ted Hickin, for providing the initial suggestions for my research, and for offering appropriate blends of criticism and encouragement during preparation of this thesis. The generosity volunteered (guidance, equipment, windshields, etc.) is also much appreciated. Thanks to the members of my supervisory committee, Dr. Lance Lesack and Mr. Ken Rood, for wading through initial drafts of my thesis, supplying equipment and researchJrevision advice. Special thanks to the external examiner, Dr. Michael Church, for the careful inspection of my thesis, and subsequent revision suggestions. The statistics advice of Dr. Dan Moore and technical assistance of Ray Squirrel1 and Gary Hayward is acknowledged. Acquisition of archival data and staff gauges from the Water Survey of Canada was made possible by Lynn Campo, Mark Crowley, Rocky Layne, Grant McGillvary and Joe Stewart. Equipment was also provided in Squamish by John Hinton. The useful hints (disguised as verbal assaults) passed on by the ancient mariners loitering at the Squamish docks must also be noted. Much credit for the quality and quantity of data collected must go to my field assistant, Colin Wooldridge. Even while enduring the 3:30 A.M. awakening during Spring Tides, Colin still displayed creative methods of estimating the current speed and temperature of Squamish River (remember, a tree branch cannot always support the weight of a rain- soaked assistant). Assistance in the field was also ably provided by Walt Babakaiff and Rhea Watt. The spiritual support necessary for my self-preservation was given by my family, friends and fellow graduate students. However, particular recognition goes to Jonathan Gibson and Jan Thompson for enduring my obsessions with tuna, popcorn and Elvis Presley Christmas albums. The Thursday-night Cariboo Trails Social Group also proved to be helpful. Not to be forgotten is a push in the right direction given many years ago by Mr. Keith Benjamin. Finally, gratitude must be expressed to my chum, Rhea Watt, for her humor, warmth, encouragement and friendly abuse. Personal and research funding was supplied by an NSERC grant given to Dr. Ted Hickin, and a graduate fellowship. TABLE OFCONTENTS .. Approval Page 11... Abstract Ill Dedication iv Quotation v Acknowledgments vi Table of Contents vii List of Tables X List of Figures xi CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION 1.1- Introduction 1.2- Literature review 1.3- Study objectives 1.4- Field site CHAFER 2- METHODOLOGY 2.1 - Current speed and water-surface slope 2.1.1- Field techniques 2.1.2- Data manipulation and regression analyses 2.2- Mean bedform parameters and water depth 2.2.1- Field techniques 2.2.2- Transect analysis 2.3- Boil parameters 2.3.1 - Data collection 2.3.2- Data manipulation CHAPTER 3- QUALITATIVE DESCRIPTIONS OF BOILS 3.1 - Introduction 3.2- Type 1 Boils 3.3- Type 2 Boils 3.4- Discussion CHAPTER 4- CURRENT SPEED AND WATER-SURFACE SLOPE 4.1 - Introduction 69 4.2- Current Speed 4.2.1- Surface current-speed regressions 73 4.2.2- Current-speed at 0.7d 4.2.2.1- Regression analysis 76 4.2.2.2- Minimum durations of current-speed measures at 0.7d 78 4.2.2.3- Graphical inspection of time series 82 4.3- Water-surface slope 4.3.1 - Inspec tion of data 87 4.3.2- Comparison of slope and speed 9 1 4.4- Discussion 4.4.1- Current-speed model results 94 4.4.2- Tidal-wave asymmetry 97 4.4.3- Current-speed time series 100 4.4.4- Implications 103 vii CHAPTER 5- BEDFORM ANALYSIS 5.1- Introduction 5.2- Results 5.2.1- Results of regression analysis 5.2.1.1- Data inspection 5.2.1.2- Mean depth regressions 5.2.1.3- Mean bedform-wavelength and height regressions 5.2.1.4- Reliability tests 5.2.1.5- Alternative combinations of independent variables 5.2.2- Variability of results 5.2.2.1- Influence of vegetation and direction of travel 5.2.2.2- Lag effects 5.3- Discussion 5.3.1- Multiple regression models 5.3.2- Variability of results CmR6- ANALYSIS OF BOIL PARAMETERS 6.1 - Introduction 6.2- Analysis of Type 1 boils 6.2.1- Relations between bedforms and Type 1 boil intensity 6.2.1.1- Graphical differentiation based on field observations 6.2.1.2- Graphical differentiation based on sonar inspection 6.2.2- Type 1 Boil parameters 6.2.2.1- Boil presence, morphology and intensity 6.2.2.2- Mean boil-period 6.2.2.3- Secondary upwellings within Type 1 boils 6.2.2.4- Type 1 boil size and persistence 6.3- Analysis of Type 2 boils 6.3.1- Relations between bedforms and Type 2 boil intensity 6.3.2- Type 2 Boil parameters 6.3.2.1- Boil presence and intensity 6.3.2.2- Boil size and morphology 6.3.3- Type 2 Boil-period time series 6.3.3.1 - Frequency distributions 6.3.3.2- Mean boil-period 6.3.3.3- Reliability of digitization technique 6.3.3.4- Graphical inspection of boil-period time series 6.3.4- Comparison of Speed and Type 2 boil-period time series 6.3.4.1- Graphical correlation 6.3.4.2- Quantitative correlation 6.4- Discussion 6.4.1- Quantitative analyses of boil parameters 6.4.2- Comparison of speed and Type 2 boil-period time series 6.4.3- Postulated boil-production mechanisms CHAPTER 7- CONCLUSIONS 7.1 - Summary of findings 7.2- Discussion and suggestions for future work .. Vlll APPENDIX 1- REGRESSION TABLES AND TEXT APPENDICES 1.1- Regression analysis tables 1.2- Symbols for variables and abbreviations 1.3- Data collection summary APPENDIX 2- DATA APPENDICES 2.1- Water- surface slope data 2.2- Surface current-speed data 2.3- Current-speed at 0.7d data 2.4- Bedform data LIST OF TABLES 3.1- Contrast of Type 1 and Type 2 boils 4.4- Time necessary for U0.7d to be within +I-5%