Braided river study reveals key to controlling sediment transport rates.
The study looked at how the amount of sand moving in a braided river changes with the width of the river. They found that as the river gets wider compared to the water flowing in it, less sand moves. However, the relationship is affected by different types of sand movement and the shape of the river. Features like sheet flow and antidunes can change how the river branches out and affects how much sand is carried along.