African river basins : their present geometry and recent past as a framework for their evolution

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 213-231). === Fractals and scaling laws abound in nature, and it is said that geometry of river networks and basins is an epitome of this. This study investigates how on the tectonically unique African continent, scaling parameters, and in particular devia...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Stankiewicz, Jacek
Other Authors: De Wit, Maarten
Format: Doctoral Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Cape Town 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7419
Description
Summary:Includes bibliographical references (leaves 213-231). === Fractals and scaling laws abound in nature, and it is said that geometry of river networks and basins is an epitome of this. This study investigates how on the tectonically unique African continent, scaling parameters, and in particular deviations from 'perfect fractal patterns' relate to parameters like underlying geology, climate, and vegetation through which the river flows. Stream and basin patterns are also used to reconstruct the past network geometry of rivers, and to shed some light on the drainage evolution of major African rivers.