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Channel Pattern

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  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms

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Definition

Plan view configuration of one or more connected open conduits.

Description

The shape of channels at the planetary surface may vary spatially as a function of flow and planetary surface characteristics. Basic plan view characteristics for a given reach concern the presence, number, size and shape of channel bends, and the degree of channel or thalweg splitting. For fluvial channel patterns, a large-scale subdivision can be made, between channel patterns in denudational uplands, where channels occupy valleys that are limiting lateral channel mobility, and channel patterns in aggradational lowlands, where channels are unconfined by valley sides and may laterally migrate or relocate by avulsion. Fluvial channels in aggradational lowlands are commonly termed alluvial channels. In addition, on Earth submarine channel patterns can be distinguished, which especially occur on continental slopes and submarine fans. In coastal zones on Earth, strongly branching channel patterns (Fig. 1...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Soil Geography and Landscape Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Bart Makaske

Authors
  1. Bart Makaske
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Correspondence to Bart Makaske .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. NASA Ames Research Center/NPP, Moffett Field, CA, USA

    Henrik Hargitai

  2. Konkoly Thege Miklos Astronomical Institute, Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Budapest, Hungary

    Ákos Kereszturi

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Makaske, B. (2015). Channel Pattern. In: Hargitai, H., Kereszturi, Á. (eds) Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3134-3_84

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