Simulating shallow morphodynamic flows on evolving topographies

TL;DR

This paper develops a depth-integrated model for shallow flows with sediment transport on evolving terrains, incorporating geometric corrections for slope variations, and demonstrates its application through numerical simulations of different slope scenarios.

Contribution

It introduces a new set of equations for morphodynamic flows with geometric corrections and adapts finite volume schemes to accurately simulate these flows.

Findings

Weakly morphodynamic flows on gentle slopes match analytical solutions.

Severe slopes cause rapid erosion and self-channelization.

Flow behavior varies significantly with slope grade.

Abstract

We derive general depth-integrated model equations for overland flows featuring the evolution of suspended sediment that may be eroded from or deposited onto the underlying topography ('morphodynamics'). The resulting equations include geometric corrections that account for large variations in slope angle. These are often non-negligible for Earth-surface flows and may consequently be important for simulating natural hazards. We also show how to adapt existing finite volume schemes for the classical shallow water equations, to simulate our new equations in a way that preserves uniform steady states and exactly conserves the combined mass of the flow and bed. Finally, to demonstrate our formulation, we present computations using simple example model closures, fed by point flux sources. On initially constant slopes, flows exhibit different behaviours depending on the grade. Shallow slopes lead to weakly morphodynamic spreading flows that agree well with analytical similarity solutions. On more severe slopes, rapid erosion occurs, leading to self-channelising flows and ultimately a 'super-erosive' state, in which sediment entrainment and gravitational acceleration perpetually reinforce each other.