01838nas a2200181   4500008004100000245007000041210006900111490000600180520126500186100002201451700002501473700002301498700002201521700001801543700001701561700002301578856005501601       2018                        eng d00aSimilarity of stream width distributions across headwater systems0 aSimilarity of stream width distributions across headwater system0 v93 a<p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Lora, Palatino, Times, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: 0.17px;">The morphology and abundance of streams control the rates of hydraulic and biogeochemical exchange between streams, groundwater, and the atmosphere. In large river systems, the relationship between river width and abundance is fractal, such that narrow rivers are proportionally more common than wider rivers. However, in headwater systems, where many biogeochemical reactions are most rapid, the relationship between stream width and abundance is unknown. To constrain this uncertainty, we surveyed stream hydromorphology (wetted width and length) in several headwater stream networks across North America and New Zealand. Here, we find a strikingly consistent lognormal statistical distribution of stream width, including a characteristic most abundant stream width of 32&thinsp;&plusmn;&thinsp;7&thinsp;cm independent of discharge or physiographic conditions. We propose a hydromorphic model that can be used to more accurately estimate the hydromorphology of streams, with significant impact on the understanding of the hydraulic, ecological, and biogeochemical functions of stream networks.</span></p>1 aAllen, George, H.1 aPavelsky, Tamlin, M.1 aBarefoot, Eric, A.1 aLamb, Michael, P.1 aButman, David1 aTashie, Arik1 aGleason, Colin, J.  uhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-02991-w