Impact of geometric features of impermeable discrete bedform on hyporheic exchange

Abstract

The bedform-driven hyporheic exchange plays a crucial role in mass transport within natural aquatic ecosystems like streams and rivers. This study aimed to unveil the impact of geometric features of impermeable discrete bedforms on hyporheic exchange by experimentally measuring quantitative hyporheic exchange flux data and variation characteristics in an annual flume. The experiments encompassed diverse conditions involving the ratio of bedform wavelength (λ) to wave height (h) and relative submergence. The study also analyzed the dependence of the effective diffusion coefficient on the geometric characteristics of bedform composition elements. The experimental results showed that, in comparison to a permeable flat bed, the presence of an impermeable discrete bedform tended to either attenuate or enhance hyporheic exchange, contingent on the geometric characteristics of bedform composition elements. The hyporheic exchange flux exhibited an initially increase followed by a decrease with increasing λ/h, with turbulence penetration emerging as the dominant mechanism governing hyporheic exchange for cases with relatively denser bedform composition elements (e.g., λ/h = 4.0). The effective diffusion coefficient peaked at λ/h around 6.0–8.0, owing to a significant augmentation in the relative contribution of pumping exchange to gross hyporheic exchange. Furthermore, the hyporheic exchange intensity generally increased with decreasing relative submergence, primarily attributed to the augmented relative contribution of pumping exchange to gross hyporheic exchange.