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Types of river channel patterns and their natural controls
Author(s) -
Alabyan Andrei M.,
Chalov Roman S.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
earth surface processes and landforms
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.294
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1096-9837
pISSN - 0197-9337
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9837(199805)23:5<467::aid-esp861>3.0.co;2-t
Subject(s) - stream power , fluvial , channel (broadcasting) , floodplain , hydrology (agriculture) , flood myth , geology , streams , geomorphology , geography , geotechnical engineering , cartography , computer science , sediment , telecommunications , archaeology , computer network , structural basin
River channel patterns are thought to form a morphological continuum. This continuum is two‐dimensional, defined by plan features of which there are three (straight, meandering, branching), and structural levels of fluvial relief of which there are also three (floodplain, flood channel, low‐water channel). Combinations of these three categories define the diversity of patterns. One of the most important factors in channel development is stream power, defined by water discharge and river slope. The greater the stream power, the stronger the branching tendency, but threshold values of stream power are different for the three different hierarchical levels of channel relief. The critical stream power values and hydrological regime together define the channel pattern, and analysis of the pattern type can be undertaken using effective discharge curves. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.