Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
The Robinson River is located in Madison County, Virginia. This river valley is characterized by having a wide valley (up to 3km in width) floored with alluvial sediment. The stream is a sinuous alluvial river, meandering through its own floodplain. Farther downstream, where the Robinson crosses Rt. 638, a distinct change in morphology occurs. This wide valley dramatically narrows and the alluvial floodplain becomes thin or absent. In these stretches, the river cuts a gorge-like valley 50 ft into the surrounding topography. Hydraulic variables (channel gradient, roughness, hydraulic radius, velocity of flow, flow depth) were examined in the modern stream system to see if they were affecting this drastic change in valley morphology. The Stream Power per Unit Area equation, derived by Bagnold (1971) was implemented in order to calculate these variables and how they interact. Stream power estimates were collected for ten sections on the Robinson River, encompassing reaches in both the wide, alluvial valley, and the narrow, gorge-like valley. Results from this fieldwork showed no significant change in stream powers between the two reaches.
Date Awarded
2000
Department
Geology
Recommended Citation
Santoro, Richard H. II, "Hydraulic Variables and Their Affect on the Morphology Of the Robinson River Valley Madison County, Virginia" (2000). Geology Senior Theses. William & Mary. Paper 68.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/geologyseniors/68
