Ramification of stream networks
The geometric complexity of stream networks has been a source of fascination for centuries. However, a comprehensive understanding of ramification—the mechanism of branching by which such networks grow—remains elusive. Here we show that streams incised by groundwater seepage branch at a characterist...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | en_US |
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National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)
2013
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/80312 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4006-7771 |
| _version_ | 1826202223264137216 |
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| author | Devauchelle, Olivier Seybold, Hansjorg Rothman, Daniel H. Petroff, Alexander Peter |
| author2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences |
| author_facet | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences Devauchelle, Olivier Seybold, Hansjorg Rothman, Daniel H. Petroff, Alexander Peter |
| author_sort | Devauchelle, Olivier |
| collection | MIT |
| description | The geometric complexity of stream networks has been a source of fascination for centuries. However, a comprehensive understanding of ramification—the mechanism of branching by which such networks grow—remains elusive. Here we show that streams incised by groundwater seepage branch at a characteristic angle of 2π/5 = 72°. Our theory represents streams as a collection of paths growing and bifurcating in a diffusing field. Our observations of nearly 5,000 bifurcated streams growing in a 100 km2 groundwater field on the Florida Panhandle yield a mean bifurcation angle of 71.9° ± 0.8°. This good accord between theory and observation suggests that the network geometry is determined by the external flow field but not, as classical theories imply, by the flow within the streams themselves. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T12:04:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | mit-1721.1/80312 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | en_US |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T12:04:07Z |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| publisher | National Academy of Sciences (U.S.) |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/803122022-09-27T23:51:19Z Ramification of stream networks Devauchelle, Olivier Seybold, Hansjorg Rothman, Daniel H. Petroff, Alexander Peter Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences Lorenz Center (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Devauchelle, Olivier Petroff, Alexander P. Seybold, Hansjorg Rothman, Daniel H. The geometric complexity of stream networks has been a source of fascination for centuries. However, a comprehensive understanding of ramification—the mechanism of branching by which such networks grow—remains elusive. Here we show that streams incised by groundwater seepage branch at a characteristic angle of 2π/5 = 72°. Our theory represents streams as a collection of paths growing and bifurcating in a diffusing field. Our observations of nearly 5,000 bifurcated streams growing in a 100 km2 groundwater field on the Florida Panhandle yield a mean bifurcation angle of 71.9° ± 0.8°. This good accord between theory and observation suggests that the network geometry is determined by the external flow field but not, as classical theories imply, by the flow within the streams themselves. United States. Dept. of Energy (Grant FG02-99ER15004) Swiss National Science Foundation 2013-08-29T19:49:08Z 2013-08-29T19:49:08Z 2012-12 2012-08 Article http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle 0027-8424 1091-6490 http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/80312 Devauchelle, O., A. P. Petroff, H. F. Seybold, and D. H. Rothman. “Ramification of stream networks.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109, no. 51 (December 18, 2012): 20832-20836. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4006-7771 en_US http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1215218109 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use. application/pdf National Academy of Sciences (U.S.) PNAS |
| spellingShingle | Devauchelle, Olivier Seybold, Hansjorg Rothman, Daniel H. Petroff, Alexander Peter Ramification of stream networks |
| title | Ramification of stream networks |
| title_full | Ramification of stream networks |
| title_fullStr | Ramification of stream networks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ramification of stream networks |
| title_short | Ramification of stream networks |
| title_sort | ramification of stream networks |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/80312 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4006-7771 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT devauchelleolivier ramificationofstreamnetworks AT seyboldhansjorg ramificationofstreamnetworks AT rothmandanielh ramificationofstreamnetworks AT petroffalexanderpeter ramificationofstreamnetworks |