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Discrimination of alluvial and mixed bedrock-alluvial multichannel river networks

Discrimination of alluvial and mixed bedrock-alluvial multichannel river networks
Discrimination of alluvial and mixed bedrock-alluvial multichannel river networks
This paper explores the use of planview morphological metrics to quantitatively describe and distinguish mixed bedrock-alluvial multichannel networks from alluvial multichannel networks. The geometries of the channel planforms of two bedrock-constrained networks (Mekong and Orange rivers) are compared with the classic alluvial anastomosed Upper Columbia River and the wandering Ganga River. Widely recognised indices utilized include: channel link count and channel sinuosity, with additional emphasis being given to the less common metrics: network bifurcation angles and island shape characteristics (i.e. aspect ratio, compactness, roundness and convexity). Link count data, with one notable exception, conform to theoretical expectations. Bifurcation angles for all four multichannel rivers are significantly greater than angles reported for braiding rivers. Island convexity clearly discriminates the two alluvial rivers from the two bedrock-influenced rivers. The width of the macrochannel, in which each network develops, has a positive influence on the number of channel links and is further related to channel slope variations which, in turn, are influenced by terrain structure revealed using trend-surface analysis. The geometry of multichannel networks are often laterally constrained such that the values of channel bifurcation angles and link sinuosity values reduce as the network intensifies and channel links are shortened. These latter observations go some way to explain the oft-noted relatively-‘straight’ links seen within multichannel networks which are a necessary adjustment to space-filling constraints placed on a network
0197-9337
Meshkova, Liubov V.
56a94191-26ba-44dc-9f3e-17acf6f932b0
Carling, Paul A.
8d252dd9-3c88-4803-81cc-c2ec4c6fa687
Meshkova, Liubov V.
56a94191-26ba-44dc-9f3e-17acf6f932b0
Carling, Paul A.
8d252dd9-3c88-4803-81cc-c2ec4c6fa687

Meshkova, Liubov V. and Carling, Paul A. (2013) Discrimination of alluvial and mixed bedrock-alluvial multichannel river networks. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. (doi:10.1002/esp.3417).

Record type: Article

Abstract

This paper explores the use of planview morphological metrics to quantitatively describe and distinguish mixed bedrock-alluvial multichannel networks from alluvial multichannel networks. The geometries of the channel planforms of two bedrock-constrained networks (Mekong and Orange rivers) are compared with the classic alluvial anastomosed Upper Columbia River and the wandering Ganga River. Widely recognised indices utilized include: channel link count and channel sinuosity, with additional emphasis being given to the less common metrics: network bifurcation angles and island shape characteristics (i.e. aspect ratio, compactness, roundness and convexity). Link count data, with one notable exception, conform to theoretical expectations. Bifurcation angles for all four multichannel rivers are significantly greater than angles reported for braiding rivers. Island convexity clearly discriminates the two alluvial rivers from the two bedrock-influenced rivers. The width of the macrochannel, in which each network develops, has a positive influence on the number of channel links and is further related to channel slope variations which, in turn, are influenced by terrain structure revealed using trend-surface analysis. The geometry of multichannel networks are often laterally constrained such that the values of channel bifurcation angles and link sinuosity values reduce as the network intensifies and channel links are shortened. These latter observations go some way to explain the oft-noted relatively-‘straight’ links seen within multichannel networks which are a necessary adjustment to space-filling constraints placed on a network

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e-pub ahead of print date: 2013
Organisations: Earth Surface Dynamics

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Local EPrints ID: 351038
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/351038
ISSN: 0197-9337
PURE UUID: f93b695d-6e8e-4ee2-a058-5f8288c3db7f

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Date deposited: 15 Apr 2013 07:49
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 13:35

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Author: Liubov V. Meshkova
Author: Paul A. Carling

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