Pathological Geomorphology

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    Delta in a desert: Okavango

    I'm racing against the clock here to get this particular delta posted before Ian uses up the entire world's supply of cool deltas... Hopefully this post makes it up in time!!

    The Okavango Delta of Botswana is unusual because the river that feeds it never makes it to the ocean or even a lake. The basin it debouches into is dry as a bone, part of the Kalahari Desert. The classic features of a delta (distributaries, etc.) are still there, but it is a singular feature on the planet Earth to have a delta of this size dry up in the middle of an arid area.

    The water provided by the delta encourages plant growth, making for high-contrast satellite photography, as well as making it a refuge for wildlife.

    Interestingly, there are ~east-west linear features running across the un-delta'ed landscape, and I'd be pleased if someone could explain what they are. Also, check out the southeastern part of the delta, where several large parallel fractures (trending northeasterly) appear to control the drainage pattern.

    Flash Earth location is here:
    http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=-19.64623&lon=22.842506&z=8.2&r=0&src=yh

    (download)
    Click here to download:
    Delta_in_a_desert_Okavango_tag.zip (2.26 MB)

    Tags » delta desert fluvial
    • 4 April 2010
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    about 2 years ago Roy responded:
    I've been trying to figure out the e-w trending features for a while, but cannot find any imagery or maps that have led me to make any conclusions. My only theory is some sort of aeolian deposit.

    Right now Namibia is planning (or maybe already built) a 20' dam 30 miles upstream from the delta. Due to the dam, a good amount of sand that is sent into the delta will be blocked. In the Okavango there is a process which takes place in which said sand bonds with salt in the basin, keeping the water from becoming brackish. It could be an ecological disaster.

    about 2 years ago Kyle House responded:
    Kyle House
    Also posted in the structurally controlled drainage theme/meme:
    http://geopathology.posterous.com/structural-control-on-drainage-the-okavango-d
    9 months ago duncanhargis liked this post.

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