River Meanders

Research Article| June 01, 1960 RIVER MEANDERS LUNA B LEOPOLD; LUNA B LEOPOLD U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, WASHINGTON, D. C.; THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, BALTIMORE, MD. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M. GORDON WOLMAN M. GORDON WOLMAN U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, WASHINGTON, D. C.; THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, BALTIMORE, MD. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information LUNA B LEOPOLD U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, WASHINGTON, D. C.; THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, BALTIMORE, MD. M. GORDON WOLMAN U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, WASHINGTON, D. C.; THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, BALTIMORE, MD. Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 29 Oct 1959 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Copyright © 1960, The Geological Society of America, Inc. Copyright is not claimed on any material prepared by U.S. government employees within the scope of their employment. GSA Bulletin (1960) 71 (6): 769–793. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1960)71769:RM2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 29 Oct 1959 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation LUNA B LEOPOLD, M. GORDON WOLMAN; RIVER MEANDERS. GSA Bulletin 1960;; 71 (6): 769–793. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1960)71769:RM2.0.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 Most river curves have nearly the same value of the ratio of curvature radius to channel width, in the range of 2 to 3. Meanders formed by meltwater on the surface of glaciers, and by the main current of the Gulf Stream, have a relation of meander length to channel width similar to rivers. Because such meanders carry no sediment, the shapes of curves in rivers are evidently determined primarily by the dynamics of flow rather than by relation to debris load.Velocity distributions along river curves provide a generalized picture of flow characteristics. Evidence on flow resistance in curved channels suggests that a basic aspect of meander mechanics may be related to the distribution of energy loss provided by a particular configuration or curvature. No general theory of meanders is as yet satisfactory, however; in fact, present evidence suggests that no single theory will explain the formation and characteristics of all meanders and that few of the physical principles involved have yet been clearly identified. 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.