Research Projects

Rivers are complex systems influenced by climate change and human activities, with flash floods in Himalayan rivers being a significant issue. Researchers must address these challenges to reduce human loss and protect the environment. Alluvial systems contain irregular granular beds, with steep mountain streams being particularly complex due to the mobility of bed sediment and episodic sediment inputs from adjacent hillslopes. Bed surface arrangements and texture also influence the stability of steep channels. Research on lowland rivers has focused on less variable sediment and flow regimes, but little research has been conducted on steep mountain streams. This research aims to better understand channel stability and morphology of steep mountain streams and their impact on ecological communities. A model will be developed that incorporates physical descriptions of entrainment and transport under various geomorphic and flow conditions. Flume experiments will be conducted to study channel stability and bed surface evolution, with the aim of relating this study to better understanding of steep rivers in Himalayan regions. To develop an understanding of channel stability in steep streams, researchers must understand how various size fractions are affected by flow conditions. Most research in laboratory flumes has examined bed surface development under no sediment feed or constant feed conditions, but there is a pressing need to investigate surface composition development under a wide range of flow and sediment supply regimes. Water depth and water surface slope will be monitored, and velocity profiles will be obtained using an Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter to calculate bed surface resistance and shear stress.