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Similarity of stream width distributions across headwater systems

Author

Listed:
  • George H. Allen

    (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

  • Tamlin M. Pavelsky

    (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

  • Eric A. Barefoot

    (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Rice University)

  • Michael P. Lamb

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • David Butman

    (University of Washington)

  • Arik Tashie

    (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

  • Colin J. Gleason

    (University of Massachusetts Amherst)

Abstract

The morphology and abundance of streams control the rates of hydraulic and biogeochemical exchange between streams, groundwater, and the atmosphere. In large river systems, the relationship between river width and abundance is fractal, such that narrow rivers are proportionally more common than wider rivers. However, in headwater systems, where many biogeochemical reactions are most rapid, the relationship between stream width and abundance is unknown. To constrain this uncertainty, we surveyed stream hydromorphology (wetted width and length) in several headwater stream networks across North America and New Zealand. Here, we find a strikingly consistent lognormal statistical distribution of stream width, including a characteristic most abundant stream width of 32 ± 7 cm independent of discharge or physiographic conditions. We propose a hydromorphic model that can be used to more accurately estimate the hydromorphology of streams, with significant impact on the understanding of the hydraulic, ecological, and biogeochemical functions of stream networks.

Suggested Citation

  • George H. Allen & Tamlin M. Pavelsky & Eric A. Barefoot & Michael P. Lamb & David Butman & Arik Tashie & Colin J. Gleason, 2018. "Similarity of stream width distributions across headwater systems," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-02991-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-02991-w
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    Cited by:

    1. Wilfred M. Wollheim & Tamara K. Harms & Andrew L. Robison & Lauren E. Koenig & Ashley M. Helton & Chao Song & William B. Bowden & Jacques C. Finlay, 2022. "Superlinear scaling of riverine biogeochemical function with watershed size," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.

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