Extreme river flood exposes latent erosion risk

IF 48.5 1区 综合性期刊 Q1 MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES
Nature Pub Date : 2025-07-10 DOI:10.1038/s41586-025-09305-3
H. J. Barneveld, R. M. Frings, E. Mosselman, J. G. Venditti, M. G. Kleinhans, A. Blom, R. M. J. Schielen, W. H. J. Toonen, D. Meijer, A. J. Paarlberg, R. P. van Denderen, J. S. de Jong, J. G. W. Beemster, L. A. Melsen, A. J. F. Hoitink
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Abstract

Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and magnitude of river floods1. Floods not only cause damage by inundation and loss of life2,3 but also jeopardize infrastructure because of bank failure and riverbed erosion processes that are poorly understood. Common flood safety programs include dike reinforcement and river widening4–9. The 2021 flood in the Meuse Basin caused 43 fatalities and a multibillion-dollar damage to infrastructure10. Based on analysis of the Meuse flood, we show how uneven widening of the river and heterogeneity of sediment deposits under the river can cause massive erosion. A recent flood safety program widened the river11, but created bottlenecks where widening was either prevented by infrastructure, or not yet implemented. Riverbed erosion was exacerbated by tectonic uplift that had produced a thin top gravel layer above fine-grained sediment. Greatly enhanced flow velocities produced underwater dunes with troughs that broke through the gravel armour in the bottlenecks, exposing easily erodible sands, resulting in extreme scour holes, one over 15 m deep. Our investigation highlights the challenges of re-engineering rivers in the face of climate change, increased flood risks, competition for river widening space, and calls for a better understanding of the subsurface.

极端的河流洪水暴露了潜在的侵蚀风险
气候变化预计会增加河流洪水发生的频率和强度。洪水不仅会造成淹没和生命损失,还会破坏基础设施,因为人们对堤岸坍塌和河床侵蚀过程知之甚少。常见的洪水安全计划包括堤防加固和河道拓宽。2021年默兹河流域的洪水造成43人死亡,并对基础设施造成数十亿美元的损失。基于对默兹洪水的分析,我们展示了河流的不均匀扩宽和河下沉积物的异质性如何导致大规模的侵蚀。最近的一项防洪安全计划拓宽了河流,但却造成了瓶颈,要么是基础设施阻止了拓宽,要么是尚未实施。构造抬升在细粒沉积物之上形成了一层薄薄的顶部砾石层,加剧了河床侵蚀。水流速度的大大提高产生了水下沙丘,这些沙丘的沟槽冲破了瓶颈处的砾石盔甲,暴露出容易被侵蚀的沙子,造成了极端的冲刷孔,一个超过15米深。我们的调查强调了在气候变化、洪水风险增加、河流拓宽空间竞争的情况下重新设计河流所面临的挑战,并呼吁更好地了解地下。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
Nature
Nature 综合性期刊-综合性期刊
CiteScore
90.00
自引率
1.20%
发文量
3652
审稿时长
3 months
期刊介绍: Nature is a prestigious international journal that publishes peer-reviewed research in various scientific and technological fields. The selection of articles is based on criteria such as originality, importance, interdisciplinary relevance, timeliness, accessibility, elegance, and surprising conclusions. In addition to showcasing significant scientific advances, Nature delivers rapid, authoritative, insightful news, and interpretation of current and upcoming trends impacting science, scientists, and the broader public. The journal serves a dual purpose: firstly, to promptly share noteworthy scientific advances and foster discussions among scientists, and secondly, to ensure the swift dissemination of scientific results globally, emphasizing their significance for knowledge, culture, and daily life.
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