Allometric relationships between traveltime channel networks, convex hulls, and convexity measures

Abstract

The channel network (S) is a nonconvex set, while its basin [C(S)] is convex. We remove open-end points of the channel connectivity network iteratively to generate a traveltime sequence of networks (Sn). The convex hulls of these traveltime networks provide an interesting topological quantity, which has not been noted thus far. We compute lengths of shrinking traveltime networks L(Sn) and areas of corresponding convex hulls C(S n), the ratios of which provide convexity measures CM(S n) of traveltime networks. A statistically significant scaling relationship is found for a model network in the form L(Sn) � A[C(S n)] 0.57 . From the plots of the lengths of these traveltime networks and the areas of their corresponding convex hulls as functions of convexity measures, new power law relations are derived. Such relations for a model network are CM(Sn) � 1 L S nð Þ0:7 and CM(Sn) � 1 A C Snð Þ½ �0:43 . In addition to the model study, these relations for networks derived from seven subbasins of Cameron Highlands region of Peninsular Malaysia are provided. Further studies are needed on a large number of channel networks of distinct sizes and topologies to understand the relationships of these new exponents with other scaling exponents that define the scaling structure of river networks.