Abstract
This article indicates the quantification tools, with whose assistance it is possible to characterize the morphology (shape) of the valley network and determine their variability caused by the scale change. The monitored characteristics (quantification tools) are:
1) "number of various order valleys " according to the Gravelius order system;
2) "valley networks' density";
3) "bifurcation ratio of various order valleys";
4) "total length of various order valleys";
5) "total length-order ratio of various order valleys";
6) "average length of various order valleys";
7) "average length-order ratio of various order valleys";
8) "fractal dimension of various order valleys";
9) "relative fractal dimension of various order valleys";
10) "valley junction angles";
11) "homogeneity of various order valleys". These characteristics have been applied to the paradigmatic examples of the schematic valley networks according to Howard (1967) and have been analyzed in three scales. In order to analyze the valley networks, the most suitable are "valley junction angles" and "homogeneity of various order valleys", i.e. the quantification characteristics resistant to any increase in the scale, "number of various order valleys" and "total length of various order valleys", where the relevant values dropped while increasing the scale, but the normal (Gauss) distribution of values was preserved.