階潭 (step-pool) 是山區常見的河流地形,包括階梯和深潭兩個部分,常呈序列狀出現。由於階潭具有消散河流能量的功能,因此許多國家常利用階潭形貌進行河流整治,以維持河床的穩定。本研究選取臺北縣坪林鄉金瓜寮溪中游10個階潭河段進行河床地形及河床底質的量測,探討階梯間距、階梯高度、河段坡度、河道寬、河床底質粒徑間的關係。 本研究區的階潭有5個為岩盤型階潭,4個為巨礫型階潭,1個為淺瀨型階潭,平均坡度介於1.6%至8.0%之間。研究區主要為中新世的木山層,為砂岩與頁岩互層,砂岩的抗河水侵蝕力較強,影響此區階潭的形貌。研究結果顯示階梯間距和河段坡度之間呈負相關,階梯間距和河道寬、河床底質粒徑之間則沒有明顯的關係存在。而階梯高度和河段坡度、河床底質粒徑、河道寬、階梯間距呈現正相關的趨勢,然而這些形貌參數之間的相關程度並不高,表示研究區階潭的形貌可能還受到其他河岸環境所影響。
Step-pools are commonly found in mountain streams which are characterized by an alternating sequence of steps and pools. Step-pools are functionally important because they provide hydraulic resistance to dissipate energy. This study attempts to investigate the morphological structure of step-pools. The study area is located at the Chin-Kua-Liao stream which runs through Ping-Lin town in Taipei County. Ten fluvial reaches with step-pool sequence were selected for measuring fluvial morphology and collecting stream bed composition to analyze the relationships among step wavelength, step height, slope, width and particle size. Most step-pools in this study are classified as rock type. The average slope of the study reaches is between 1.6% and 8.0% and the geology is mainly composed by sandstone and shale. Most steps are formed by sandstone due to its resistance to fluvial erosion is much stronger than shale. Results indicated that step wavelength has an inverse relationship with reach slope. There are no significant relationships among step wavelength, channel width and bed particle size. Step height shows a positive relationship with step interval, reach slope, bed particle size and width. In summary, the relationships among selected morphological parameters are not significant, that implies the step-pool morphology in the Chin-Kua-Liao stream are possibly influenced by other factors of river bank environment.