Observation on the fractal characteristics of individual river plan forms

Ray Shyan Wu, Yi Shao Lai

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Fractal geometry, due to its ability for describing natural objects better than Euclidean geometry, has attracted great interests ever since Mandelbrot presented the concept of fractals in 1975. This paper investigates the fractal characteristic of eight individual river plan forms in Taiwan. Analyzed using the Richardson plot, these rivers have sinuosity fractal dimensions ranging from 1.08 to 1.28, with a mean 1.19 and transition zones in the plots found to be curves, not sharp inflections. The channel width is found to be about an order less than the value of the lower cut-off in the plots. A model for estimation of the river channel width and its bed slope is proposed. Through a case study, this paper also discusses the length-area relationship.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationIFIP Transactions A
Subtitle of host publicationComputer Science and Technology
PublisherPubl by Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.
Pages441-451
Number of pages11
EditionA-41
ISBN (Print)0444816283
StatePublished - 1994
EventProceedings of the 2nd IFIP Working Conference on Fractals in the Natural and Applied Sciences - London, UK
Duration: 7 Sep 199310 Sep 1993

Conference

ConferenceProceedings of the 2nd IFIP Working Conference on Fractals in the Natural and Applied Sciences
CityLondon, UK
Period7/09/9310/09/93

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