Critical Wavelength for River Meandering

Authors

Boyd F. Edwards, Utah State UniversityFollow
D. H. Smith

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Physical Review E

Volume

63

Issue

4

Publisher

American Physical Society

Publication Date

3-1-2001

First Page

045304-1

Last Page

045304-4

Abstract

A fully nonlinear modal analysis identifies a critical centerline wave number q_c for river meandering that separates long-wavelength bends, which grow to cutoff, from short-wavelength bends, which decay. Exact, numerical, and approximate analytical results for q_c rely on the Ikeda, Parker, and Sawai [J. Fluid Mech. 112, 363 (1981)] model, supplemented by dynamical equations that govern the river migration and length. Predictions also include upvalley bend migration at long times and a peak in lateral migration rates at intermediate times. Experimental tests are suggested.

Comments

http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevE.63.045304

Published by American Physical Society in Physical Review E. Publisher PDF is available for download through the link above.

Recommended Citation

“Critical wavelength for river meandering,” B. F. Edwards and D. H.Smith, Phys. Rev. E Rapid Comm. 63, 045304 (2001) [1].