A HYDROLOGIC CLASSIFICATION OF VALLEYS IN THE GREAT BASIN, WESTERN UNITED STATES / Une classification hydrologique des vallées dans le Grand Bassin, États Unis de l'Ouest

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The Great Basin section of the Basin and Range Physiographic Province of Nevada and adjoining states is a semiarid to arid region that is completely cut off from the sea. Valleys of the Great Basin are partly or completely surrounded by mountains in contrast to the Basin and Range Province of southern Arizona where isolated mountains are completely surrounded by valleys. Valleys completely surrounded by mountains are described as topographically closed whereas valleys that have surface connections with nearby valleys are considered to be topographically open. However, the topographic characteristics of individual valleys are not necessarily indicators of the hydrologic characteristics. The valley fill may be saturated with water to the ground surface or it may be entirely drained, depending upon the position of the controlling outlet. The playa on the valley floor may be dry or wet depending upon the depth to water in the valley. A classification of valleys of the Great Basin is presented, based on the extent to which a valley is isolated and the depth of the water table. The playa—whether it is wet or dry—is used to determine the classification of an individual valley.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: