Structure and dynamics of channel sand waves (case study of the lower reaches of' the Dnestr River)

Abstract

Some problems are discussed considering studies of complex sand waves and other structures in sandy channels. The author proposesto subdivide the landforms hierarchy into components taking in to account both characteristic and maximum length of the channel bed forms as well as a principle of double change of the bed slope. The technique applied to the ridges natural assembly permits to unify methods of identification of bedforms of the same order at different rivers. The morphogenetic analysis of ridges of various orders has been fulfilled at the lower reaches of the Dnestr River and the sand ridges evolution was investigated. Some data are given on linear size and movement rate of most mobile sand ridges as observed in the summer 1983 at the lower Dnestr.