Shallow Concentrated Flow

09/21/26

“How does sheet flow turn into channel flow?”

Rainwater moves on the surface as sheet flow after hitting the ground. But soon enough, the runoff will bump into surface irregularities and begin to collect as neither sheet nor channel flow but something in between, Shallow Concentrated Flow. Shallow concentrated flow forms as small rivulets, has a flow depth between 0.1 and 0.5 ft, and is typically formed after sheet flow travels between 100 and 300 ft.

• Earth/Climate science
• Engineering
• Urban Systems