Geostatistical Study on the Formation of Longitudinal Channel Shapes

The erosion and degradation of river bed is an important geo-surface process. As a result the longitudinal channel shape of river reveals various characteristics. There are concave, convex or even irregular shapes. In this paper, based on field survey and geostatistical analysis, the interpretation of the above phenomenon was investigated. Results showed that, erosion in river bed may induce valley slope instability, and then, more huge stones will fall and aggregate on the bed and ease the water erosion on the contrary. Therefore the special shapes of longitudinal channels were generally related to the distribution of erosion. The determining physical factors of the macro river profiles were further concluded.