An Estimation of River bed Profile of the Stream System based on the Potential Energy Concept

位置에너지 槪念에 依한 水系의 河川縱斷 推定

The stream morphological characteristics of a basin have important influence upon the analysis of runoff. In this study, the laws of stream morphology-the law of average stream fall and the law of least rate of potential energy expenditure-which were derived based on the analogy of entropy in thermodynamics are introduced and their validity is analysised with the data taken from the topographic maps covering the whole Geum River system. The first law is the Law of Average Stream Fall which states that under the dynamic equilibrium condition the ratio of average fall between any two different order stream in the same river basin in unity. The second law is the law of least rate of energy expenditure which states that all natural streams are intended to choose their own course of flow such that the rate of potential energy loss per unit mass of water this course is a minimum. The parameters representing the morphological characteristics of 13 tributaries in the Geum River system such as stream bifurcation ratio and stream concavity were Computed from the Horton-Strahler's laws and are used to check the law of average stream fall. The result showed that the law of average stream fall agrees reasonably well with law of Horton-Strahler. Concavity of a river basin is shown to be the determinative factor to the formation of a stream system. Concavity of a river basin is shown to be the determinative factor to the formation of a stream system. Based on Horton's Law and the law of average stream fall, longitudinal stream profiles can be calculated.