Vegetation influence on delta evolution and dynamics under varying water- and sediment-discharge conditions
Rebecca Lauzon and A. Brad Murray
Division of Earth and Ocean Science, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham NC
Key Points
  1. With no vegetation, deltas shift from few to many channels and global to local avulsions with increasing water discharge.
  2. With high water or sediment discharge, vegetation tends to confine flow into existing channels, restricting creation of new channels.
  3. With vegetation, increased sediment or water discharge results in a more stable channel network through frequent channel reoccupation.