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Stream power controls the braiding intensity of submarine channels similarly to rivers
Author(s) -
Lai Steven Y. J.,
Hung Samuel S. C.,
Foreman Brady Z.,
Limaye Ajay B.,
Grimaud JeanLouis,
Paola Chris
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2017gl072964
Subject(s) - submarine , geology , intensity (physics) , fluvial , stream power , channel (broadcasting) , dimensionless quantity , hydrology (agriculture) , sediment , geotechnical engineering , geomorphology , oceanography , mechanics , engineering , physics , quantum mechanics , structural basin , electrical engineering
We use physical experiments to investigate the response of submarine braided channels driven by saline density currents to increasing inflow discharge and bed slope. We find that, similarly to braided rivers, only a fraction of submarine braided networks have active sediment transport. We then find similar response to imposed change between submarine and fluvial braided systems: (1) both the active and total braiding intensities increase with increasing discharge and slope; (2) the ratio of active braiding intensity to total braiding intensity is 0.5 in submarine braided systems regardless of discharge and slope; and (3) the active braiding intensity scales linearly with dimensionless stream power. Thus, braided submarine channels and braided rivers are similar in some important aspects of their behavior and responses to changes in stream power and bed slope. In light of the scale independence of braided channel planform organization, these results are likely to apply beyond experimental scales.