根源是分支的河流网络的根源
J Taylor Perron1, Paul W Richardson, Ken L Ferrier
1Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA. perron@mit.edu
Nature
|December 11, 2012
概括
河流网络的形成是由合的侵蚀性不稳定性驱动的,而不是随机的机会. 这些不稳定性决定了山谷的扩大和侧坡的切口,解释了分支河流系统中观察到的有组织的模式.
科学领域:
- 地质形态学 地质形态学
- 地球表面的过程 地球表面的过程
- 水文学的水文学
背景情况:
- 在地球和其他行星上,分支的河流网络很常见,但它们的形成机制和规模控制是不太了解的.
- 基于概率或最佳性的现有理论不能完全解释河流网络通过侵蚀和沉积物运输的时间发展.
研究的目的:
- 阐明驱动河流网络在最上游的分支的机制.
- 确定控制河流网络剖析空间尺度的关键因素.
主要方法:
- 开发了一个理论框架,基于合不稳定性在山谷扩大和通道切口.
- 分析了土壤运输和通道切口时间尺度的关键比率.
- 在两个不同的地点进行了现场测量,以验证理论预测.
主要成果:
- 分支源于两个相结合的不稳定性:优选山谷扩大和侧坡切口.
- 这些不稳定性是由土壤运输与通道切口时间尺度的比率决定的.
- 现场数据证实了该理论在预测小,支流形成山谷的大小方面的准确性.
结论:
- 河流网络的微小结构是侵蚀力学的一个有组织的特征.
- 与干旱度和岩石弱度相关的通道切口强度是景观剖析尺度上的主导控制.
- 河流网络模式不是随机拓的结果,而是由确定性的侵蚀过程形成的.
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