Geography and the Properties of Surfaces. A Note on Stream Ordering and Contour Mapping

摘要

The paper describes the necessary, sufficient, possible, and likely geometrical and topological characteristics of stream drainage basins of various orders. A suggestion is made for experimental topographic mapping to bring it closer to the current theory of spatial hierarchical systems. Stream ordering is examined and a recommendation is offered that streams now considered as of first order be regarded as of zero order. This simplifies mathematical notation for the Horton-Strahler-Woldenberg type of analysis in quantitative geomorphology and has added intellectual interest by facilitating the understanding of the virtually infinite cyclical regress in the patterns of surface features down to individual particle size. (Author)