Rivers choose their path based on erosion, a discovery that could transform flood planning and restoration

Friday, July 11, 2025 - 06:34 in Earth & Climate

Rivers are Earth's arteries. Water, sediment and nutrients self-organize into diverse, dynamic channels as they journey from the mountains to the sea. Some rivers carve out a single pathway, while others divide into multiple interwoven threads. These channel patterns shape flood risks, erosion hazards and ecosystem services for more than three billion people who live along river corridors worldwide.

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