Evolution of Meander Loops

Research Article| April 01, 1974 Evolution of Meander Loops JAMES C. BRICE JAMES C. BRICE 1Department of Earth Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information JAMES C. BRICE 1Department of Earth Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1974) 85 (4): 581–586. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1974)852.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation JAMES C. BRICE; Evolution of Meander Loops. GSA Bulletin 1974;; 85 (4): 581–586. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1974)852.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The evolution of the meanders on reaches of 10 alluvial streams in the United States is reconstructed, and a scheme for the evolution and classification of meander loops, derived from a study of the meandering pattern of 125 alluvial streams, is proposed. In the main evolutionary trend, a low symmetrical arc of approximately constant curvature tends to increase in height but decrease in radius as it grows. When its length exceeds its radius, the arc is termed a simple symmetrical meander loop. A simple loop becomes asymmetrical by the growth on its perimeter of a second arc of constant curvature, which is commonly tangent to the first and curved toward the same side of the stream. A simple loop becomes compound when a second arc on its perimeter has developed into a loop. Four main categories of loops (simple symmetrical, simple asymmetrical, compound symmetrical, and compound asymmetrical) and about 16 form types are proposed. The compound loops are regarded as aberrant forms of indefinite radius and length, but the meandering patterns can be analyzed into simple loops whose properties can be measured and treated statistically. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.