Studying Relationships between the Fractal Dimension of the Drainage Basins and Some of Their Geomorphological Characteristics

Zahra Khanbabaei, Amir Karam, Ghobad Rostamizad

Kharazmi University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Watershed Management Sciences and Engineering, Natural Resources Faculty, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: 10.4236/ijg.2013.43058                

Abstract

Complex nonlinear dynamic systems are ubiquitous in the landscapes and phenomena studied by earth sciences in general and by geomorphology in particular. Many natural landscape features have an aspect such as fractals. In the many geomorphologic phenomena such as river networks and coast lines this is visible. In recent years fractal geometry offers as an option for modeling river geometry and physical processes of rivers. The fractal dimension is a statistical quantity that indicates how a fractal scales with the shrink, the space occupied. This theory has the mathematical basis but also applied in geomorphology and also shown great success. Physical behavior of many natural processes as well as using fractal geometry is predictable relations. Behavior of complex natural phenomena as rivers has always been of interest to researchers. In this study using data basic maps, drainage networks map and Digital Elevation Model of the ground was prepared. Then applying the rules Horton-Strahler river network, fractal dimensions were calculated to examine the relationship between fractal dimension and some rivers geomorphic features were investigated. Results showed fractal dimension of watersheds have meaningful relations with factors such as shape form, area, bifurcation ratio and length ratio in the watersheds.

Keywords

Fractal Geometry; Fractal Dimension; Drainage Networks; Horton-Strahler

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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