Physics
Geometry of valley growth
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Although amphitheatre-shaped valley heads can be cut by groundwater flows emerging from springs, recent geological evidence suggests that other processes may also produce similar features, thus confounding the interpretations of such valley heads on Earth and Mars. To better understand the origin of this topographic form, we combine field observations, laboratory experiments, analysis of a high-resolution topographic map and mathematical theory to quantitatively characterize a class of physical phenomena that produce amphitheatre-shaped heads. The resulting geometric growth equation accurately predicts the shape of decimetre-wide channels in laboratory experiments, 100 m-wide valleys in Florida and Idaho, and kilometre-wide valleys on Mars. We find that, whenever the processes shaping a landscape favour the growth of sharply protruding features, channels develop amphitheatre-shaped heads with an aspect ratio of . Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011.
Publication Title
Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Publication Date
4-25-2011
Volume
673
First Page
245
Last Page
254
ISSN
0022-1120
DOI
10.1017/S002211201100053X
Keywords
fingering instability, geophysical and geological flows, pattern formation
Repository Citation
Petroff, A. P.; Devauchelle, O.; Abrams, D. M.; Lobkovsky, A. E.; Kudrolli, A.; and Rothman, D. H., "Geometry of valley growth" (2011). Physics. 118.
https://commons.clarku.edu/faculty_physics/118
