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On Rivers

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Self-Organizing Systems

Part of the book series: Life Science Monographs ((LSMO))

Abstract

Among the most enchanting of the sculpting processes on earth (and apparently also at an earlier time on Mars) is water flow. The large-scale interactions among lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere are modeled in this chapter, on the basis of very few assumptions and only a few physical principles. Despite the mathematical detail, readers not mathematically inclined should be able to follow the thematic development that reveals rivers to be self-organizing, dynamic systems; complex, but analyzable. Rivers show the richness of near-equilibrium operations, the effects of scale, and the results of competition between coupled forces and processes. In this presentation about rivers is a hint that rivers are an appropriate metaphor for the stream of life.

The physical model of river systems has to take into account precipitation, evaporation, groundwater flow, river volume flow, and the changing course of rivers, from cascades to meanders. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of the bed load carrying capacity of the river. —The Editor

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90024, USA

    Arthur S. Iberall

Authors
  1. Arthur S. Iberall
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Crump Institute for Medical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA

    F. Eugene Yates

  2. Department of Kinesiology, Univesity of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Alan Garfinkel

  3. Chemical Electrophysiology Laboratory Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Donald O. Walter

  4. Crump Institute for Medical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Gregory B. Yates

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© 1987 Plenum Press, New York

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Iberall, A.S. (1987). On Rivers. In: Yates, F.E., Garfinkel, A., Walter, D.O., Yates, G.B. (eds) Self-Organizing Systems. Life Science Monographs. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0883-6_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0883-6_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-8227-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-0883-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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