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Link Length Distributions in Drainage Networks With Lakes
Author(s) -
Mark David M.,
Averack Richard
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/wr020i004p00457
Subject(s) - link (geometry) , randomness , drainage network , drainage , fluvial , point (geometry) , mathematics , mixing (physics) , distribution (mathematics) , statistics , hydrology (agriculture) , geology , environmental science , geometry , ecology , geomorphology , physics , geotechnical engineering , mathematical analysis , biology , combinatorics , structural basin , quantum mechanics
A classification system for stream links in drainage networks containing lakes is introduced. For two study areas the observed frequencies of these link types differ significantly from expected values predicted by topological randomness. Mean link lengths vary significantly across link types, with links beginning at point sources tending to be longer than other types. The mixed‐gamma distribution provides a good fit to link length distributions. The mixing parameters for link types beginning at point sources are similar to values reported for exterior links in lake‐free networks. Shape parameters for most other link types are near or below 2. Because the glacially deranged drainage systems studied are not adjusted to fluvial processes, frequency distributions of link lengths more closely approach the exponential distribution which should characterize randomly merging links.