NDLI: Multi-thread river channels: A perspective on changing European alpine river systems

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Gurnell, Angela Surian, Nicola Zani, Luca
Copyright Year	2009
Abstract	Rivers are natural systems whose planform pattern in alluvial reaches reflects a balance between three fundamental ingredients: flow energy, sediment calibre and supply, and vegetation. Whilst early research on river channel classification emphasised flow (stream power) and sediment controls, the impact of vegetation is now recognised in increasingly detailed classification schemes. Different planform patterns are more or less sensitive to changes in these three fundamental ingredients, which in the absence of human interventions all respond to changes in climate, allowing different morphological configurations to evolve and in some cases shift from one planform style to another. Multi-thread, braided and transitional river channel styles are common in European regions where conditions for the development of these planform styles, notably high bed material supply and steep channel gradients, exist. However, widespread, intense human impacts on European river systems, particularly over recent centuries, have caused major changes in river styles. Human activities impact on all three major controls on channel pattern: flow regime, sediment regime, vegetation (both riparian and catchment-wide). Whilst the mix of human activities may vary greatly between catchments, research from across Europe on the historical evolution of river systems has identified consistent trends in channel pattern change, particularly within rivers draining the Alps. These trends involve periods of narrowing and widening, and also switching between multi-thread and single-thread styles. Although flow regulation is often the key focus of explanations for human-induced channel change, our review suggests that human manipulation of sediment supply is a major, possibly the dominant, causal factor. We also suggest that “engineering” by riparian trees can accelerate transitions in pattern induced by flow and sediment change and can also shift transition thresholds, offering a new perspective for interpretation of channel change in addition to the focus on flow and sediment regime within existing models. Whilst the development of planform classifications of increasing complexity have been crucial in developing terminology and highlighting the main factors that control channel styles, additional approaches are needed to understand, predict and manage European Alpine river systems. A combination of field, laboratory and numerical modeling approaches are needed to advance the process understanding that is necessary to anticipate river landscape, particularly planform, changes and thus to make ecologically sound management choices.
Starting Page	253
Ending Page	265
Page Count	13
File Format	PDF
ISSN	10151621
Journal	Aquatic Sciences
Volume Number	71
Issue Number	3
e-ISSN	14209055
Language	English
Publisher	Birkhäuser-Verlag
Publisher Date	2009-03-17
Publisher Place	Basel
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Subject Keyword	Multi-thread rivers river planform catchment land use change river channel management riparian vegetation Europe Freshwater & Marine Ecology Marine & Freshwater Sciences Oceanography Ecology Life Sciences
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Ecology Aquatic Science Water Science and Technology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

Implications of channel processes for juvenile fish habitats in Alpine rivers

Long-term evolution of fish communities in European mountainous rivers: past log driving effects, river management and species introduction (Salzach River, Danube)

Reconstructing temporal changes and prediction of channel evolution in a large Alpine river: the Tagliamento river, Italy

Riparian vegetation as indicator of channel adjustments and environmental conditions: the case of the Panaro River (Northern Italy)

Modelling river and riparian vegetation interactions and related importance for sustainable ecosystem management

Diagnosing problems induced by past gravel mining and other disturbances in Southern European rivers: the Magra River, Italy

Historical ecology of riverine fish in Europe

Vegetation of riprapped revetments along the freshwater tidal Hudson River, New York

Diagnosing problems produced by flow regulation and other disturbances in Southern European Rivers: the Porma and Curueño Rivers (Duero Basin, NW Spain)

Multi-thread river channels: A perspective on changing European alpine river systems

Similar Documents

Implications of channel processes for juvenile fish habitats in Alpine rivers

Long-term evolution of fish communities in European mountainous rivers: past log driving effects, river management and species introduction (Salzach River, Danube)

Reconstructing temporal changes and prediction of channel evolution in a large Alpine river: the Tagliamento river, Italy

Riparian vegetation as indicator of channel adjustments and environmental conditions: the case of the Panaro River (Northern Italy)

Modelling river and riparian vegetation interactions and related importance for sustainable ecosystem management

Diagnosing problems induced by past gravel mining and other disturbances in Southern European rivers: the Magra River, Italy

Historical ecology of riverine fish in Europe

Vegetation of riprapped revetments along the freshwater tidal Hudson River, New York

Diagnosing problems produced by flow regulation and other disturbances in Southern European Rivers: the Porma and Curueño Rivers (Duero Basin, NW Spain)

Multi-thread river channels: A perspective on changing European alpine river systems