Picco L., Mao L., Cavalli M., Buzzi E., Rainato R., Lenzi M.A., 2013, Evaluating short-term morphological changes in a gravel-bed river using Terrestrial Laser Scanner, Geomorphology (Amst.) 201 (2013): 323–334. doi_10.1016/j.geomorph.2013.07.007,
URL: http://www.cnr.it/prodotto/i/264430

Braided rivers are dynamic and complex environments shaped by the balance of the flow and sediment regimes and by the influence of the riparian vegetation and disturbances such as floods. In particular, the balance between sediment supply and transport capacity can determine the morphological evolution of a river. For instance, aggrading and widening trends are distinctive of reaches where sediment supply is higher than transport capacity. In contrast, incising and narrowing tendencies are dominant. The aim of the present study is to analyze the short-term morphological dynamics and the processes of erosion and sediment deposition along a small reach of a relatively unimpacted gravel-bed braided river (Tagliamento River, northeast Italy) using a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS). The study area is around 23. ha and has been surveyed before after two periods with relevant flood events, two of which were higher than the bankfull level and occurred between September 2010 and September 2011. The very high point clouds density allowed us to derive three high resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) with 0.125. ×. 0.125. m pixel size. Scan data cloud merging was achieved with an overall high degree of accuracy and resolution (subcentimeter). Topographic data were more accurate for exposed surfaces than those collected in wet areas. A detailed net of dGPS control points allowed us to verify the high quality of the DEMs derived from the surveys (RMSE of about 5. cm). Two DEMs of difference (DoD) were computed, revealing different and consistent episodes of erosion and deposition within the analyzed area, and changes in morphology of channel and bars could also be detected, such as bar edge accretion and bank erosion demonstrating a strong dynamicity of the Tagliamento River. Moreover, a very detailed estimation of the surface roughness in the study area has been carried out, permitting a large-scale analysis of the roughness values distribution. The results of the analysis on the TLS collected data show that along a river with a high natural character (i.e., Tagliamento River), the dynamic processes are also common during low magnitude events.

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