Teorías e hipótesis de régimen aplicadas al estudio de ajuste dinámico de los cauces aluviales

Abstract

Geomorphic approaches to describe and explain the equilibrium alluvial river channel form, and another approache porpuses to stable «regime» channel design, have relied on simple equations relating channel dimensions to sediment grain-size, gradient and discharge. These equations are either empirical «hydraulic geometry» equations, obtained from regression analysis of the main variables sampled in natural rivers, or «rational» regime equations derived from physical theory of hydraulics and sediment transport. In this work several theories and hypothesis on the river regime are shown in order to explain the dynamic adjustments of channels in connection with environmental changes: i) theory of unit stream power, ii) minimum energy dissipation rate , iii) dispersive-force model, iv) concepts of boundary shear stress and critical bank shear, v) other regime relationships. Finally, the last part is devoted to the application of the regime theories in arid and semi-arid environments, by considering it a complex aspect, of great interest in the hydro-morphologic context and until the moment little studied.