Mr Adam Sutcliffe
PhD student

School of Geography
Queen Mary, University of London
Mile End Road
London E1 4NS
a.sutcliffe@qmul.ac.uk

 

PhD Working Title:
Effects of seasonal plant growth and weed cutting regimes on river flow hydraulics


Project Description:

One of the major factors affecting flood conveyance in small to medium-sized water courses is the growth of aquatic plants. In-stream vegetation increases the resistance to flow, giving higher flood levels for a given discharge and leading to greater incidence of over-bank flooding. Indeed, reports on the recent summer floods have highlighted the management of channels and their aquatic vegetation as a serious issue. With increased temperatures and more frequent summer storms predicted by climate change scenarios, the coincidence of high flows with large amounts of plant growth is likely to increase. It is, therefore, critical that the effect of plant growth on river flow hydraulics is better understood in order to provide a sound basis for the management of aquatic plants.

By monitoring the effects of seasonal plant growth and weed cutting regimes on river flow hydraulics in the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology River Lambourn Observatory, my research aims to develop a novel methodology for modelling the interaction of river flow hydraulics with in-stream vegetation. This will enable the identification of optimal management regimes. Specific objectives are to:

  1. develop seasonal plant growth models for common types of in-stream vegetation
  2. develop methodology to represent in-stream vegetation within 3D numerical codes
  3. produce a reach-scale three-dimensional hydraulic model for the River Lambourn to predict the interaction between flow and in-stream vegetation
  4. test the new methodology using field measurements taken at different stages of plant growth and following weed cutting
  5. provide recommendations for improved weed cut methodology patterns, timing and frequency.

As my PhD is funded by a Natural Environment Research Council studentship, I will be spending 95% of my time at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in Wallingford (NERC Owned) and the remainder of my time at QMUL.

Keywords: macrophytes; eco-hydraulics; flood conveyance; CFD.

Supervisors
Dr Geraldene Wharton (QMUL)
Dr Ponnambalam Rameshwaran (Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford)
Dr Pam Naden (Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford)