Distinguishing between single-thread and braided river patterns is straightforward in the modern environment, as they can be directly observed or predicted using hydrological data. However, distinguishing channel patterns in the rock record has proven difficult, as only remnants of the river channels are preserved, and they only account for a small fraction of the overall record. Identifying channel patterns in the ancient is important for predicting the quality and heterogeneity of groundwater and hydrocarbon reservoirs. Here, we develop a novel set of metrics for distinguishing river types using distributions of the dimensions of river channels and channel belts measured from modern rivers using remote sensing data. 

Relevant Publication:

• Dong and Goudge, 2022, Geology

For gravel-bed rivers, channel geometry adjusts so that the average fluid shear stress slightly exceeds the critical mobility stress for the median bed sediment size. However, for sand-bed streams, fluid stress is usually up to an order of magnitude greater than the critical stress of mobility for sand. Hence, large uncertainties exist for relations that predict hydraulic geometry. Here, we explore the possibility that bank properties may control the hydraulic geometry of rivers by analyzing a global data set, including the Selenga River Delta, Russia.

Relevant Publication:

• Dong et al., 2019, Water Resources Research