Abstract
Pools and riffles have long been recognized as fundamental geomorphological elements of meandering streams. As such, the quantification of pool and riffle characteristics and development of techniques to identify these bed forms has been an important research field for decades. The definition and identification of pools and riffles, however, can vary amongst disciplines. This research compares methods used in two different disciplines, geomorphology and hydrology, and determines the level of agreement between them. Initially, we identified pools and riffles using the bed differencing technique (bdt) in fifteen reaches of Ransom Creek, Clarence, New York. We then calculated the hydrological index, using the Froude Number (Fr) method, for each bed form identified by the bdt, and investigated the agreement between the two indices. Eleven bed forms were identified using the bdt and eight showed agreement geomorphologically (bdt) and hydrologically (Fr). In the three cases where the classifications did not agree, the bdt appeared to be a more appropriate technique to use to identify pools and riffles.
Recommended Citation
Krueger, Amy M. and Frothingham, Kelly M.
(2006)
"Application and Comparison of Geomorphological and Hydrological Pool and Riffle Quantification Methods,"
The Geographical Bulletin: Vol. 48:
Iss.
2, Article 3.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/thegeographicalbulletin/vol48/iss2/3