A Theoretical, Empirical and Experimental Investigation of the Spatial Scaling and Dynamics of Braided Rivers

9628393埃菲福福拉了解辫状河流形态的时空变异性是一个具有挑战性和难度的科学问题。缺乏数据和过程的复杂性阻碍了定量研究，并阻碍了这一领域的研究。改进的卫星技术用于对辫状河进行遥感监测和试验性(实验室)生产，提供了基本信息。拟议的理论、经验和实验研究侧重于理解辫状河流几何中的尺度不变性和尺度相关性(统称为尺度关系)，并提供这些关系的物理解释。特别是，目标是对辫状河的空间和时间结构进行定量研究和描述，并最终提供一个概念性的框架，在此框架下可以对这种系统进行物理理解和预测。拟议研究的具体目标是：研究辫状河流形态(平面图)中的尺度关系。对辫状河的平面形态和空间形态的演变进行研究和统计。通过实验和计算机模拟研究了辫状河形态的时空结构与其潜在物理机制之间的关系。由一名地质学家、一名水文学家和一名实验/理论物理学家组成的跨学科研究小组将使用实验室生产和监测辫状河的实验设施。主要的理论创新将是(1)发展一个数学上严格的框架，以解决复杂系统的尺度不变性和尺度依赖问题，(2)在单一框架下整合空间和时间尺度的思想，以及(3)使用一个简单的辫状河模型来研究辫状河形态中观测到的时空结构的物理机制。分析和解释这些复杂动力系统的工作将包括多标度、自组织临界性和具有复杂行为的确定性系统的概念。这一发现可用于(1)用于水利工程和环境研究的辫状河流演变预测；(2)用于可移性研究的不同大小辫状河流几何特征的尺度关系。

9628393 Efi Foufoula Understanding the space-time variability of the morphology of braided rivers is a challenging and difficult scientific problem. Lack of data and process complexity have prohibited quantitative studies and hindered this area of research. Improved satellite technology for remote sensing monitoring and experimental (laboratory) production of braided rivers offer essential information. The proposed theoretical, empirical and experimental investigations, focused on understanding scale invariances and scale dependencies (collectively called scale relationships) in the geometry of braided rivers and provide physical interpretations of these relationships. In particular, the goal is to quantitatively study and characterize the spatial and temporal structure of braided rivers and ultimately provide a generalized conceptual framework under which such systems can be studied for both physical understanding and prediction. The specific objectives of the proposed research are: Study scale relations in the morphology (planforms) of braided rivers. Study and statistically characterize the evolution of planforms and spatial patterns of braided rivers. Study the connection of the spatial and temporal structure of braided river morphology to underlying physical mechanism via experimental work and computer simulation. The experimental facility for the laboratory production and monitoring of braided rivers will be used by and interdisciplinary research team consisting of a geologist, a hydrologist and an experimental/theoretical physicist. The main theoretical innovations will be (1) development of a mathematically rigorous frame-work to address questions of scale-invariances and scale-dependencies of complex systems, (2)integration of spatial and temporal scaling ideas under a single framework, and (3) use of a simple braided river model to investigate physical mechanisms responsible for observed spatial and temporal structures in the morphology of braided rivers. The fr amework for analysis and interpretation of these complex dynamical systems will incorporate notions of multiscaling, self-organized criticality and deterministic systems with complex behavior. Finding can be applied in (1) prediction of the evolution of braided rivers for hydraulic engineering and environmental studies and (2) scale relationships in geometric characteristics of braided rivers of different size for transferability studies.