What is meant by gradually varied flow

Gradually varied flow refers to the flow of water in open channels where the water depth and flow velocity change gradually over a long reach of the channel. This type of flow occurs when the channel slope changes gradually and can be influenced by various factors such as channel geometry, roughness, and the rate of flow. The flow is typically described using the energy equation and the slope-discharge equation to determine the water surface profile, depth, and velocity of flow along the channel.