University of Cambridge > Talks.cam > Geophysical and Environmental Processes > How Boltzmann statistics govern a river's shape

How Boltzmann statistics govern a river's shape

Add to your list(s) Download to your calendar using vCal

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Doris Allen.

Alluvial rivers build their bed with the sediment they transport. As they do so, they spontaneously generate a beautiful variety of shapes, including meanders, braids and ramified networks. Despite this wonderful variety, rivers show remarkably consistent features: their size, slope and shape are tightly related to water discharge and sediment load. Using laboratory experiments, we will investigate the mechanisms responsible for this consistency, and illustrate how trembling sand grains dictate to the Amazon River its own width.

This talk is part of the Geophysical and Environmental Processes series.

Tell a friend about this talk:

This talk is included in these lists:

Note that ex-directory lists are not shown.

 

© 2006-2024 Talks.cam, University of Cambridge. Contact Us | Help and Documentation | Privacy and Publicity