Peter R. Furey


Research

Hydrological data are often related to spatial scale by power laws. For example, this relationship is observed during single rainfall events between streamflow peaks and drainage area in the Goodwin Creek basin, Mississippi (Fig. 1). Similar patterns have been observed in geomorpological data for many years. For example, a power law relationship is observed between the longest channel length in a basin and drainage area in the Whitewater basin, KY (Fig. 2). There is also some indication that the distribution of riparian zones, vegetated areas beside rivers, could exhibit power law patterns with respect to spatial scale.

These observations prompt many interesting questions: How does the spatial structure of a river network influence the spatial structure of flood peaks? (Fig. 3 - very cool); Assuming that riparian zones are coupled to river hydrology, then are the spatial patterns observed in networks and streamflows also found in riparian zones?; Does the ground water component of streamflow, often called base flow, also change with spatial scale?; How can spatial patterns, like power laws, be used to predict streamflows in basins where there are no stream gauges? These are just some of the questions that I address in my research.


Publications (last updated 6/08)

CV (last updated 6/08)

Communication