TITLE:
Application of Google Earth in Modern River Sedimentology Research
AUTHORS:
Xuewen Zhou, Hongliang Wang
KEYWORDS:
Google Earth, River Type, Terrain Slope, River Parameters, Modern River Evaluation
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.3 No.8,
October
9,
2015
ABSTRACT: Google
Earth, a software based on satellite’s images and database of navigation, gains
features of high resolution, integrated images, quick update, convenience,
simpleness and free cost. Practice of this software shows that it plays an
important role in mapping, construction and river research. Based on the
fundamental features of Google Earth, this passage makes an introduction to its
application in studying modern river sedimentology through the case study of the
Yellow River. The results show that Google Earth satellite’s high-resolution
images and image overlay functions make it easy for users to quickly navigate
river, determine the type of river, track the river flows and measure the
terrain slope; the software’s “Ruler” and “Add Path” functions make it easy for
users to measure channel width, curvature, amplitude, wavelength, size,
morphology of point-bar and other river parameters; the software’s “Historical Image”
function has important significance in the study of modern river migration,
sedimentary evolution and river geomorphological shape during different
seasons.