Establishing a Geological Knowledge Base for Braided River Deltas Using Google Earth

This study quantifies morphological features of global braided river deltas using Google Earth imagery, analyzing eight systems (e.g., Yukon–Kuskokwim, Poyang Lake, Lena River deltas). Methods include listwise deletion for missing data (retaining 87% of Poyang Lake delta samples) and sensitivity ana...

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Main Authors: Xiaoyu Yu, Mengjiao Dou, Shaohua Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/11/6186
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author Xiaoyu Yu
Mengjiao Dou
Shaohua Li
author_facet Xiaoyu Yu
Mengjiao Dou
Shaohua Li
author_sort Xiaoyu Yu
collection DOAJ
description This study quantifies morphological features of global braided river deltas using Google Earth imagery, analyzing eight systems (e.g., Yukon–Kuskokwim, Poyang Lake, Lena River deltas). Methods include listwise deletion for missing data (retaining 87% of Poyang Lake delta samples) and sensitivity analysis (threshold changes ≤2.4%). Nonparametric tests (Kruskal–Wallis, H = 12.73, <i>p</i> = 0.005) show significant differences in bifurcation angles across deltas, with the wave-dominated Po River (59.2°) having an 18% higher 80% threshold the than tide-dominated Poyang Lake (50.1°, <i>p</i> = 0.003). Key quantitative results include the following: 1.65% of bifurcation angles cluster at 30–60°, differing from fan deltas (<i>p</i> < 0.01); wavelength–amplitude relationships are nonlinear (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.537–0.913), with positive slopes indicating a high sediment supply (e.g., Yukon–Kuskokwim) and negative slope channel avulsion (e.g., Poyang Lake); bifurcation spacing correlates with the sediment supply—54% of Poyang Lake spacings < 2000 m (dense networks) vs. 80% of Lena River spacings < 15,000 m (stable channels). The resulting dataset enables global, remote-sensing-based comparisons, providing thresholds for sedimentary modeling and reservoir prediction. Moderate missing data (≤13%) minimally affect results, though high-missingness cases need further analysis. This study replaces empirical rules with statistical validation, showing that morphometric differences reflect depositional dynamics, which are critical for reservoir heterogeneity assessments.
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spelling doaj-art-e375c93d942845bc8984fac00fdb885f2025-08-20T02:32:54ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-05-011511618610.3390/app15116186Establishing a Geological Knowledge Base for Braided River Deltas Using Google EarthXiaoyu Yu0Mengjiao Dou1Shaohua Li2The School of Geosciences, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, ChinaThe School of Geosciences, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, ChinaThe School of Geosciences, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, ChinaThis study quantifies morphological features of global braided river deltas using Google Earth imagery, analyzing eight systems (e.g., Yukon–Kuskokwim, Poyang Lake, Lena River deltas). Methods include listwise deletion for missing data (retaining 87% of Poyang Lake delta samples) and sensitivity analysis (threshold changes ≤2.4%). Nonparametric tests (Kruskal–Wallis, H = 12.73, <i>p</i> = 0.005) show significant differences in bifurcation angles across deltas, with the wave-dominated Po River (59.2°) having an 18% higher 80% threshold the than tide-dominated Poyang Lake (50.1°, <i>p</i> = 0.003). Key quantitative results include the following: 1.65% of bifurcation angles cluster at 30–60°, differing from fan deltas (<i>p</i> < 0.01); wavelength–amplitude relationships are nonlinear (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.537–0.913), with positive slopes indicating a high sediment supply (e.g., Yukon–Kuskokwim) and negative slope channel avulsion (e.g., Poyang Lake); bifurcation spacing correlates with the sediment supply—54% of Poyang Lake spacings < 2000 m (dense networks) vs. 80% of Lena River spacings < 15,000 m (stable channels). The resulting dataset enables global, remote-sensing-based comparisons, providing thresholds for sedimentary modeling and reservoir prediction. Moderate missing data (≤13%) minimally affect results, though high-missingness cases need further analysis. This study replaces empirical rules with statistical validation, showing that morphometric differences reflect depositional dynamics, which are critical for reservoir heterogeneity assessments.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/11/6186braided river deltasedimentary parametersGoogle Earthgeological knowledge base
spellingShingle Xiaoyu Yu
Mengjiao Dou
Shaohua Li
Establishing a Geological Knowledge Base for Braided River Deltas Using Google Earth
Applied Sciences
braided river delta
sedimentary parameters
Google Earth
geological knowledge base
title Establishing a Geological Knowledge Base for Braided River Deltas Using Google Earth
title_full Establishing a Geological Knowledge Base for Braided River Deltas Using Google Earth
title_fullStr Establishing a Geological Knowledge Base for Braided River Deltas Using Google Earth
title_full_unstemmed Establishing a Geological Knowledge Base for Braided River Deltas Using Google Earth
title_short Establishing a Geological Knowledge Base for Braided River Deltas Using Google Earth
title_sort establishing a geological knowledge base for braided river deltas using google earth
topic braided river delta
sedimentary parameters
Google Earth
geological knowledge base
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/11/6186
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AT mengjiaodou establishingageologicalknowledgebaseforbraidedriverdeltasusinggoogleearth
AT shaohuali establishingageologicalknowledgebaseforbraidedriverdeltasusinggoogleearth