RSM River Mechanics Podcast

Joanna Curran on Gravel Bed Rivers, Wilcock and Crowe, and Step-Pool Systems

December 07, 2022 Stanford Gibson Season 1 Episode 4
Joanna Curran on Gravel Bed Rivers, Wilcock and Crowe, and Step-Pool Systems
RSM River Mechanics Podcast
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RSM River Mechanics Podcast
Joanna Curran on Gravel Bed Rivers, Wilcock and Crowe, and Step-Pool Systems
Dec 07, 2022 Season 1 Episode 4
Stanford Gibson

Dr. Joanna Curran is probably best know for her early, academic, laboratory work on step-pool systems, gravel cluster turbulence,  and the Wilcock and Crowe transport function.  But she has since worked on northwestern rivers with several engineering firms, and most recently joined the Corps of Engineers at the Seattle District.  This academic/private sector/public sector perspective and experimental/numerical/field experience gives her a couple different multi-perspective views on rivers.  When you match those perspectives with a fundamental curiosity about how sediment processes work, it makes for a fascinating conversation.  

We talked about Wilcock-Crowe, step pool systems (see her flume experiment video at the webpage), gravel clusters, "low flow bed tempering," the impact of vegetation "porosity" on sediment mechanics, and several other topics.


This series was funded by the Regional Sediment Management (RSM) program.

Stanford Gibson (HEC Sediment Specialist) hosts.

Mike Loretto edited the episode and wrote and performed the music.

Video shorts and other bonus content are available at the podcast website:
https://www.hec.usace.army.mil/confluence/rasdocs/rastraining/latest/the-rsm-river-mechanics-podcast

...but most of the supplementary videos are available on the HEC Sediment YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/stanfordgibson

If you have guest recommendations or feedback you can reach out to me on LinkedIn or ResearchGate or fill out this recommendation and feedback form: https://forms.gle/wWJLVSEYe7S8Cd248

Show Notes

Dr. Joanna Curran is probably best know for her early, academic, laboratory work on step-pool systems, gravel cluster turbulence,  and the Wilcock and Crowe transport function.  But she has since worked on northwestern rivers with several engineering firms, and most recently joined the Corps of Engineers at the Seattle District.  This academic/private sector/public sector perspective and experimental/numerical/field experience gives her a couple different multi-perspective views on rivers.  When you match those perspectives with a fundamental curiosity about how sediment processes work, it makes for a fascinating conversation.  

We talked about Wilcock-Crowe, step pool systems (see her flume experiment video at the webpage), gravel clusters, "low flow bed tempering," the impact of vegetation "porosity" on sediment mechanics, and several other topics.


This series was funded by the Regional Sediment Management (RSM) program.

Stanford Gibson (HEC Sediment Specialist) hosts.

Mike Loretto edited the episode and wrote and performed the music.

Video shorts and other bonus content are available at the podcast website:
https://www.hec.usace.army.mil/confluence/rasdocs/rastraining/latest/the-rsm-river-mechanics-podcast

...but most of the supplementary videos are available on the HEC Sediment YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/stanfordgibson

If you have guest recommendations or feedback you can reach out to me on LinkedIn or ResearchGate or fill out this recommendation and feedback form: https://forms.gle/wWJLVSEYe7S8Cd248