The 3D Geometry of Meandering Channels - Implications for the Stratigraphic Record

Explore the intricate 3D geometry of meandering channels and its implications for the stratigraphic record in this 1-hour 18-minute lecture. Delve into the complexities of predicting migration rates in both terrestrial and submarine environments. Examine a simple curvature-based model of meandering and compare it to real-world measurements from rivers and submarine channels. Discover how channel curvature alone can be a reliable predictor of migration rates in systems with uniform erodibility. Investigate the characteristic spatial phase lag between curvature and migration, leading to autogenic downstream translation and counter point bar formation. Learn about the effects of along-channel slope changes on incising and aggrading channels. Utilize open-source code to visualize the 3D geometry and temporal evolution of deposits from both subaerial and submarine meandering flows. Topics covered include erosion, expansion and translation, point bars, levy deposits, degradation, grading, and sinuosity through time.