HR: 0800h
AN: H31A-1276    [Abstracts]
TI: Dynamical evolution of channels driven by subsurface flow
AU: * Lobkovsky, A
EM: leapfrog@mit.edu
AF: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139 United States
AU: Smith, B
EM: braunen@physics.clarku.edu
AF: Clark University, 950 Main St., Worcester, MA 01610 United States
AU: Mohrig, D
EM: mohrig@mit.edu
AF: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139 United States
AU: Kudrolli, A
EM: akudroll@black.clarku.edu
AF: Clark University, 950 Main St., Worcester, MA 01610 United States
AU: Rothman, D
EM: dhr@mit.edu
AF: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139 United States
AB: We study granular dynamics in a laboratory experiment in which channels are driven by subsurface fluid flow. Using time-resolved height data acquired with a novel laser imaging technique we construct and test a nonlinear evolution equation for channel transects. For steady driving, three dimensionless parameters deriving from the driving as well as the intrinsic granular dynamics determine the asymptotic channel shape. Conversely, these parameters can be extracted from channels that evolved under steady driving conditions. A preliminary field test of this two-dimensional model is briefly described. We also speculate on a three dimensional model for the evolution of channel heads and networks of competing channels.
DE: 1815 Erosion
DE: 1824 Geomorphology: general (1625)
DE: 1862 Sediment transport (4558)
DE: 4445 Nonlinear differential equations
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005