Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010agufmep51c0565m&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2010, abstract #EP51C-0565
Physics
[1825] Hydrology / Geomorphology: Fluvial, [1856] Hydrology / River Channels, [5419] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Hydrology And Fluvial Processes
Scientific paper
Despite years of study questions remain about the factors determining stream patterns (e.g., braided versus meandering) and spatial patterns of floodplain deposition. Highly sinuous, unconfined meanders require small channel width to average depth ratios, which in turn require cohesive channel banks. On Earth, this cohesion is obtained most commonly by clay-rich sediment and vegetation cover. Roots can physically hold sediments intact and also retain moisture in the root zone, allowing minerals to weather to clay. Dense plant cover also encourages suspended (i.e., clay-rich) sediment deposition. However, the recent discovery of highly sinuous Martian meandering channels raises the question of how meandering can occur in the absence of vegetation. Quinn River located in the east branch of the Black Rock Desert, Nevada is a sinuous channel that flows through lacustrine sediments on the floor of paleolake Lahontan where vegetation cover is sparse. Lake and channel sediment samples, cross-sectional profiles, and various measurements of material strength (e.g., shear vane strength) were collected to characterize the Quinn River channel banks and bed. Similar data were also collected from two heavily vegetated, more classic meandering channels (the Humboldt River, also near Winnemucca, Nevada, and a tidal creek in Virginia) for comparison. Preliminary assessments of the samples indicate that Quinn river banks are more cohesive than those of the Humboldt River. They consist of finer sediments (mostly clay/silt to very fine sand) relative to the Humboldt River (ranging up to gravel size sediments in the point bar deposits). And they have a higher Atterberg Plasticity Index overall. Samples collected from the Quinn River bed and banks also effervesce in dilute hydrochloric acid. The concentration of chemical cements in bank samples and their role in providing cohesion are being evaluated. Highly sinuous channels on Mars show that meandering channels can occur without vegetation. The Quinn River is a sinuous channel flowing through a non-vegetated surface with high clay/silt content and carbonate cementation. The Quinn River is thus a possible analog to the sinuous Martian channels with bank cohesion provided by mud composition and possible cementation. Bank cohesion due to the presence of perennial ice in stream banks will be considered as a possible analog in future research.
Burr Devon M.
Howard Alan D.
Matsubara Yoshimi
Moore Jeffery M.
Williams Rosa M.
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