# Channel pattern

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Characteristic geometry of a channel system

[Channel](/source/Channel_(geography)) patterns are found in [rivers](/source/River), streams, and other bodies of water that transport water from one place to another. Systems of branching river channels dissect most of the sub-aerial landscape, each in a valley proportioned to its size. Whether formed by chance or necessity, by headward [erosion](/source/Erosion) or downslope convergence, whether inherited or newly formed.[1] Depending on different geological factors such as weathering, erosion, depositional environment, and [sediment](/source/Sediment) type, different types of channel patterns can form.

## Bedrock vs. alluvial channels

There are two main types of channels, [bedrock](/source/Bedrock) and alluvial, which are present no matter the sub-classification. Bedrock channels are composed entirely of compacted rock, with only patches of [alluvium](/source/Alluvium) scattered throughout. Because the bedrock is constantly exposed it takes much less [stream power](/source/Stream_power) to carve the channel. The [hydraulic](/source/Hydraulics) force of flowing water can push and pull detached joint blocks out of their initial position and roll or drag them downstream. [Plucking](/source/Plucking_(glaciation)) is common in jointed rocks, where this occurs.[2]

Alluvial channels are much more common and can be large or small. All large rivers, and most small ones, have channels that are usually lined with alluvium, sediment that was carried to that channel reach by the river and that eventually will be carried farther [downstream](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/downstream).[3] This lining of alluvium creates a protective shield over the bedrock, which means it takes a much greater stream power to carve the channel.

## Braided channels

There are a few distinctly different channel types based on their geological structure and [depositional](/source/Depositional_environment) environment. [Braided rivers](/source/Braided_river) carry fairly coarse-grained sediment down a fairly steep gradient. They typically exhibit numerous channels that split off and rejoin each other to give a braided appearance. Additionally, the water [discharge](/source/Discharge_(hydrology)) tends to be highly variable. Consequently, braided rivers usually exist near mountainous regions, especially those with glaciers.[4] These braided channels usually occur in [tectonically active](/source/Tectonics) environments and have a larger sediment load due to varying water flow and discharge.

## Anastomosed channels

Often confused with braided channels, [anastomosing](/source/Anastomosis) is reserved for a type of river with multiple, interconnected, coexisting channel belts on alluvial plains. Based on its geomorphology, saucer-shaped islands called [flood-basins](/source/Flood_basin) characterize anastomosing rivers.[5] These channels are classified as a composite form of which the individual channel belts may have braided, [meandering](/source/Meander) or [straight channels](/source/Straight_River_(central_Minnesota)). Although similar to, and even encompass other channel types, anastomosed rivers are their own entity and have just begun to be studied by [geologists](/source/Geologist), revealing that much is still unknown.

[Fluvial](/source/Fluvial) processes form several **channel patterns**, including:

- Straight, which are found in the most tectonically incised/active areas. This is more of a hypothetical end-member, and are not often found in nature. Straight-type channels can be found at [alluvial fans](/source/Alluvial_fans).

- [Braided rivers](/source/Braided_river), which form in (tectonically active) areas that have a larger sedimentary load than the discharge of the river and a high gradient.

- [Meandering rivers](/source/Meandering_river), which form a [sinuous](/source/Sinuous) path in a usually low-gradient plain toward the end of a fluvial system.

- [Anastomosed river](/source/Anastomosis#Geography_and_hydrology) is a rare case of a relatively straight, complicated vertical sequence of river deposits with banks held together by dense [vegetation](/source/Vegetation).

## See also

- [Channel types](/source/Channel_types)

- [Depositional environment](/source/Depositional_environment) – Processes associated with the deposition of a particular type of sediment

- [Drainage system (geomorphology)](/source/Drainage_system_(geomorphology)) – Patterns formed by streams, rivers, and lakes in a drainage system

- [Fluvial landforms](/source/Fluvial_landforms)

- [Fluvial processes](/source/Fluvial_processes) – Sediment processes associated with rivers and streamsPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets

- [Sedimentary structures](/source/Sedimentary_structures) – Geologic structures formed during sediment deposition

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["The Stages of a River"](http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/rivers/stages.html). *www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk*. Retrieved 2017-05-16.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Leroy., Bloom, Arthur (1998). *Geomorphology : a systematic analysis of late Cenozoic landforms*. Prentice-Hall. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0135054966](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0135054966). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [299847567](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/299847567).{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Diplas, Panayiotis (1990). "Characteristics of Self‐Formed Straight Channels". *Journal of Hydraulic Engineering*. **116** (5): 707–728. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1061/(asce)0733-9429(1990)116:5(707)](https://doi.org/10.1061%2F%28asce%290733-9429%281990%29116%3A5%28707%29).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Stanley, Chernicoff; L., Whitney, Donna (2007). *Geology : an introduction to physical geology*. Pearson Prentice Hall. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0131474642](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0131474642). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [489065099](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/489065099).{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Makaske, Bart (2001). ["Anastomosing rivers: a review of their classification, origin and sedimentary products"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161011091819/http://www.geo.arizona.edu/geo5xx/geos544/pdfs/fluvial/makaske.pdf) (PDF). *Earth-Science Reviews*. **53** (3–4): 149–196. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2001ESRv...53..149M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2001ESRv...53..149M). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/S0012-8252(00)00038-6](https://doi.org/10.1016%2FS0012-8252%2800%2900038-6). Archived from [the original](http://www.geo.arizona.edu/geo5xx/geos544/pdfs/fluvial/makaske.pdf) (PDF) on 2016-10-11. Retrieved 2017-05-16.

## Further reading

- Prothero, D. R. and Schwab, F., 1996, Sedimentary Geology, pg. 137-167, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7167-2726-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7167-2726-9)

v t e River morphology Large-scale features Alluvial plain Drainage basin Drainage system (geomorphology) Estuary Strahler number (stream order) River valley River delta River sinuosity Alluvial rivers Anabranch Avulsion (river) Bar (river morphology) Braided river Channel pattern Cut bank Floodplain Meander Meander cutoff Mouth bar Oxbow lake Point bar Riffle Rapids Riparian zone River bifurcation River channel migration River mouth Slip-off slope Stream pool Thalweg Bedrock river Canyon Knickpoint Plunge pool Bedforms Ait Antidune Dune Current ripple Regional processes Aggradation Base level Degradation (geology) Erosion and tectonics River rejuvenation Mechanics Deposition (geology) Water erosion Exner equation Hack's law Helicoidal flow Playfair's law Sediment transport List of rivers that have reversed direction Category

v t e Rivers, streams and springs Rivers (lists) Alluvial river Braided river Blackwater river Channel Channel pattern Channel types Confluence Distributary Drainage basin Mountain river Subterranean river River bifurcation River ecosystem River source Tributary Streams Arroyo Beck Bourne Burn Chalk stream Coulee Current Stream bed Stream channel Streamflow Stream gradient Stream pool Perennial stream Winterbourne Springs (list) Estavelle/Inversac Geyser Holy well Hot spring list list in the US Karst spring list Mineral spring Ponor Rhythmic spring Spring horizon Sedimentary processes and erosion Abrasion Anabranch Aggradation Armor Bed load Bed material load Granular flow Debris flow Deposition Dissolved load Downcutting Erosion Headward erosion Knickpoint Palaeochannel Progradation Retrogradation Saltation Secondary flow Sediment transport Suspended load Wash load Water gap Fluvial landforms Ait Alluvial fan Antecedent drainage stream Avulsion Bank Bar Bayou Billabong Canyon Chine Cut bank Estuary Floating island Fluvial terrace Gill Gulch Gully Glen Meander scar Mouth bar Oxbow lake Riffle-pool sequence Point bar Ravine Rill River island Rock-cut basin Sedimentary basin Sedimentary structures Strath Thalweg River valley Wadi Fluvial flow Helicoidal flow International scale of river difficulty Log jam Meander Plunge pool Rapids Riffle Shoal Stream capture Waterfall list of waterfalls Whitewater Surface runoff Agricultural wastewater First flush Urban runoff Floods and stormwater 100-year flood Crevasse splay Flash flood Flood Urban flooding Non-water flood Flood barrier Flood control Flood forecasting Flood-meadow Floodplain Flood pulse concept Flooded grasslands and savannas Inundation Storm Water Management Model Return period Point source pollution Effluent Industrial wastewater Sewage River measurement and modelling Baer's law Baseflow Bradshaw model Discharge (hydrology) Drainage density Exner equation Groundwater model Hack's law Hjulström curve Hydrograph Hydrological model Hydrological transport model Infiltration (hydrology) Main stem Playfair's law Relief ratio River Continuum Concept Rouse number Runoff curve number Runoff model (reservoir) Stream gauge WAFLEX Wetted perimeter Volumetric flow rate River engineering Aqueduct Balancing lake Canal Check dam Dam Drop structure Daylighting Detention basin Erosion control Fish ladder Floodplain restoration Flume Infiltration basin Leat Levee River morphology Retention basin Revetment Riparian-zone restoration Stream restoration Weir River sports Canyoning Fly fishing Rafting River surfing Riverboarding Stone skipping Triathlon Whitewater canoeing Whitewater kayaking Whitewater slalom Related Aquifer Aquatic toxicology Body of water Hydraulic civilization Limnology Riparian zone River valley civilization River cruise Sacred waters Surface water Wild river Rivers by length Rivers by discharge rate Drainage basins Whitewater rivers Flash floods River name etymologies Countries without rivers

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Channel pattern](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_pattern) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_pattern?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.