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

[9628393] Efi Foufoula了解辫状河形态的时空变化是一个具有挑战性和难度的科学问题。缺乏数据和过程复杂妨碍了定量研究并阻碍了这一领域的研究。改进的卫星技术对辫状河的遥感监测和实验（实验室）生产提供了必要的信息。提出的理论、实证和实验研究，重点是理解辫状河几何中的尺度不变性和尺度依赖性（统称为尺度关系），并提供这些关系的物理解释。特别是，目标是定量研究和表征辫状河的时空结构，并最终提供一个广义的概念框架，在这个框架下，这些系统可以进行物理理解和预测研究。提出的研究的具体目标是：研究辫状河形态（平台）的尺度关系。研究并统计表征辫状河的地形演变和空间格局。通过实验和计算机模拟，研究辫状河形态时空结构与潜在物理机制的联系。用于实验室生产和监测辫状河的实验设备将由一个跨学科研究小组使用，该小组由一名地质学家、一名水文学家和一名实验/理论物理学家组成。主要的理论创新将是：(1)发展一个数学上严谨的框架，以解决复杂系统的尺度不变性和尺度依赖性问题；(2)在单一框架下整合空间和时间尺度思想；(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空间和时间结构的物理机制。分析和解释这些复杂动力系统的框架将包括多尺度、自组织临界和具有复杂行为的确定性系统的概念。该发现可用于(1)预测辫状河的演变，用于水利工程和环境研究；(2)不同大小辫状河几何特征的尺度关系，用于可转移性研究。

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.