Sediment Runoff, Transporting Capacity of Flows and Their Role in River Channel Formation

An analysis is made of the sediment runoff as a determining factor of channel processes and as a set of phenomena arising due to the flow-channel interaction. The amount of sediments transported by the flow is determined by its transporting capacity that is changing constantly according to hydraulic characteristics of the flow undergoing changes across space and time. The relationships between them are responsible for the directedness of vertical channel deformations, i.e. incisions and accumulations of sediments leading to an increase or decrease in bottom elevations. In this case, the leading role in channel development is played by the runoff of entrained sediments. Its proportion governs changes in morphometric characteristics of the channel and its stability and influences the development of river branches and braids of the channel.