Geological Society of America

237 Geomorphology and Surface Processes Across the Solar System

This session welcomes abstracts on any aspect of planetary geomorphology and surface processes, including but not restricted to: Earth analogues, laboratory experiments, numerical models, planetary comparison, mapping, in situ data, or remote sensing studies.

Wednesday, 22 October 2025
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
HBGCC, 212AB

Apparent Hack’s Law in River Deltas

Paper number: 237-3
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:35 AM – 8:55 AM

Authors

Tian Dong Presenting Author
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX
Lawrence Vulis
University of California Irvine, Irvine, California
Hongbo Ma
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, illinois
Alejandro Tejedor
Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza
Timothy Goudge
The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX

Abstract

River deltas are densely populated, ecologically vital landscapes threatened by rising sea levels. Distributary Channel Networks (DCNs) disperse sediment to build deltaic land, yet their relationship remains elusive. Inspired by Hack’s Law that shows watershed drainage area scaling with channel length in Tributary Channel Networks, we analyze a global dataset of DCNs and discover a similar scaling between distributary channel length and nourishment area, the land-building counterpart to drainage area. Despite this apparent global scaling, we find two distinct local land-building patterns: Uniform Delta Networks consistently follow Hack’s Law, while Composite Delta Networks exhibit a scale break, transitioning from space-filling growth around the delta apex to linear growth near the coast. This unrecognized growth pattern offers insights into where delta restoration projects may be most effective.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-413343

© Copyright 2025 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.