[A-CG42] Water and sediment dynamics from land to coastal zones

[ACG42-P04] Analysis of the spatial variation of river network structure and its influencing factors in the Jinghe River watershed

*Xianmeng Meng¹, Pengju Zhang¹, Ruohui Shi¹ (1.China University of Geosciences, Wuhan)

Keywords:Jinghe River watershed, River network structure, Fractal dimension, Spatial variation, Controlling factor

In this study, the fractal dimensions of river networks in the Jinghe River watershed and its sub-watersheds are calculated. The spatial variation of fractal dimensions for these river networks is obtained. The main controlling factors affecting the change of river network structure in the Jinghe River watershed are analyzed based on the topographic, hydrological and meteorological data. The results show that the fractal dimension of overall river network in the Jinghe River watershed is 1.57 and the fractal dimensions of river networks in the sub-watersheds are between 1.45 and 1.70. The river networks of the Huanjiang River sub-watershed and the upper Jinghe River watershed have the largest fractal dimensions and the river network of the Sanshui River sub-watershed has the smallest fractal dimension. The fractal dimensions of river networks represent a decreasing trend from northwest to southeast. The fractal dimension of the river network has a good positive correlation with the average elevation of watershed and a good negative correlation with the annual mean precipitation, the annual mean accumulated temperature and the average mean slope of the watershed.