Depth-dependent inclined porous-current equation (${\partial }_T{h}^{\alpha }+{\partial }_X{h}^{\beta }=\nabla \cdot (h^{\beta }\nabla h)$)

For porosity $P{z}^{\alpha -1}$ and permeability of a porous medium $K{z}^{\beta -1}$ above an inclined impermeable plane, stored liquid volume per area is $P{h}^{\alpha }/\alpha$. The depth-integrated Darcy flux is $\rho gK{h}^{\beta }(\sin \theta -\cos \theta h_x,-\cos \theta h_y)/(\beta \mu )$. Conservation of mass yields the displayed equation with $X=x\tan \theta$, $Y=y\tan \theta$ and $T=t\alpha \rho gK\sin \theta \tan \theta /(\beta \mu P)$.

In a slender steady porous gravity current, the dominant balance is $(h^{\beta }{)}_X=(h^{\beta }{h}_Y{)}_Y$. If its width and height scales are $W,H$, fixed downslope volume flux gives $H^{\beta }W=\text{constant}$, and transverse spreading gives $W^2\sim HX$. Eliminating $H$ yields the displayed width exponent. The porosity exponent affects transient storage but not this steady balance.