Rhythmic spacing and origin of pools and riffles

Research Article| May 01, 1978 Rhythmic spacing and origin of pools and riffles E. A. KELLER; E. A. KELLER 1Environmental Studies and Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar W. N. MELHORN W. N. MELHORN 2Department of Geosciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (1978) 89 (5): 723–730. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1978)89<723:RSAOOP>2.0.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 E. A. KELLER, W. N. MELHORN; Rhythmic spacing and origin of pools and riffles. GSA Bulletin 1978;; 89 (5): 723–730. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1978)89<723:RSAOOP>2.0.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 Quantitative analysis of the spacing of pools in bedrock and alluvial stream channels in California, Indiana, Virginia, and North Carolina suggest that the tendency for streams to meander in the vertical (or third) dimension, as in the horizontal plane, is a fundamental characteristic of many streams that is independent of material type. Simple linear-regression and correlation models reveal that approximately 70% of the variability of the spacing of pools can be explained by the variability of channel width. Analysis of the spacing of 251 pools in eleven streams, utilizing the Kolmogorov-Smirnov goodness of fit test and one-way analysis of variance suggests that the hypothesis that the data from bedrock and alluvial channels are from the same population cannot be rejected at the 0.05 level of significance.Morphologic maps and field observations of stream channels incised in sandstone, limestone, metavolcanic rock, and syenite suggest that although these streams have much in common with alluvial stream channels, there exist considerable differences in certain aspects of channel morphology. This results because bedrock control of morphology locally may be more significant than the effects of general processes that tend to produce rhythmic channel forms such as pools and riffles. However, local controls tend to mask rather than destroy the effects of more general processes that produce the third dimension of meandering streams. 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.