Avijit Gupta - Introducing Large Rivers

1 Cover

2 Preface Note

3 1 Introduction1.1 Large Rivers 1.2 A Book on Large Rivers References

4 2 Geological Framework of Large Rivers2.1 Introduction 2.2 The Geological Framework: Elevated Land and a Large Catchment 2.3 Smaller Tectonic Movements 2.4 The Subsurface Alluvial Fill of Large Rivers 2.5 Geological History of Large Rivers 2.6 Conclusion References

5 3 Water and Sediment in Large Rivers3.1 Introduction 3.2 Discharge of large Rivers 3.3 Global Pattern of Precipitation 3.4 Large River Discharge: Annual Pattern and Long-Term Variability 3.5 Sediment in Large Rivers 3.6 Conclusion References

6 4 Morphology of Large Rivers4.1 Introduction 4.2 Large Rivers from Source to Sink 4.3 The Amazon River 4.4 The Ganga River 4.5 Morphology of Large Rivers: Commonality and Variations 4.6 Conclusion References

7 5 Large Rivers and their Floodplains: Structures, Functions, Evolutionary Traits and Management with Special Reference to the Brazilian Rivers 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Origin and Age of Rivers and Floodplains 5.3 Scientific Concepts and their Implications for Rivers and Floodplains 5.4 Water Chemistry and Hydrology of Major Brazilian Rivers and their Floodplains 5.5 Ecological Characterisation of Floodplains and their Macrohabitats 5.6 Ecological Responses of Organisms to Flood-Pulsing Conditions 5.7 Biodiversity 5.8 The Role of Rivers and their Floodplains for Speciation and Species Distribution of Trees 5.9 Biogeochemical Cycles in Floodplains 5.10 Management of Amazonian River Floodplains 5.11 Policies in Brazilian Wetlands 5.12 Discussion and Conclusion Acknowledgements References Notes

8 6 Large River Deltas6.1 Introduction 6.2 Large River Deltas: The Distribution 6.3 Formation of Deltas 6.4 Delta Morphology and Sediment 6.5 The Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta: An Example of a Major Deltaic Accumulation 6.6 Conclusion References

9 7 Geological History of Large River Systems7.1 The Age of Large Rivers 7.2 Rivers in the Quaternary 7.3 Changes During the Holocene 7.4 Evolution and Development of the Mississippi River 7.5 The Ganga-Brahmaputra System 7.6 Evolution of the Current Amazon 7.7 Evolutionary Adjustment of Large Rivers References

10 8 Anthropogenic Alterations of Large Rivers and Drainage Basins8.1 Introduction 8.2 Early History of Anthropogenic Alterations 8.3 The Mississippi River: Modifications before Big Dams 8.4 The Arrival of Large Dams 8.5 Evaluating the Impact of Anthropogenic Changes 8.6 Effect of Impoundments on Alluvial Rivers 8.7 Effect of Impoundments on Rivers in Rock 8.8 Large-scale Transfer of River Water 8.9 Conclusion References

11 9 Management of Large Rivers9.1 Introduction 9.2 Biophysical Management 9.3 Social and Political Management 9.4 The Importance of the Channel, Floodplain, and Drainage Basin 9.5 Integrated Water Resources Management 9.6 Techniques for Managing Large River Basins 9.7 Administering the Nile 9.8 Conclusion References

12 10 The Mekong: A Case Study on Morphology and Management10.1 Introduction 10.2 Physical Characteristics of the Mekong Basin 10.3 The Mekong: Source to Sea 10.4 Erosion, Sediment Storage and Sediment Transfer in the Mekong 10.5 Management of the Mekong and its Basin 10.6 Conclusion References

13 11 Large Arctic Rivers Introduction 11.2 Physiography and Quaternary Legacy 11.3 Hydroclimate and Biomes 11.4 Permafrost 11.5 Anthropogenic Effects 11.6 Discharge of Large Arctic Rivers 11.7 Sediment Fluxes 11.8 Nutrients and Contaminants 11.9 Mackenzie, Yukon and Lena Deltas 11.10 Significance of Large Arctic Rivers Acknowledgment References

14 12 Climate Change and Large Rivers12.1 Introduction 12.2 Global Warming: Basic Concept 12.3 A Summary of Future Changes in Climate 12.4 Impact of Climate Change on Large Rivers 12.5 Climate Change and a Typical Large River of the Future 12.6 Conclusion References

15 Index

16 End User License Agreement

1 Chapter 1 Table 1.1 Selected characteristics of 24 large rivers.

2 Chapter 5Table 5.1 Electrical conductivity and pH values of several major Brazilia...Table 5.2 Types of flood pulses and affected wetlands.Table 5.3 Macrohabitat diversity in three large Brazilian floodplains bel...Table 5.4 Morphological, physiological, and phenological adaptations used...Table 5.5 Species richness of terrestrial arthropods in Amazonian uplands...Table 5.6 Large Amazonian river flood plains: effect of flood pulse on th...Table 5.7 Biomass and net primary production per hectare and year of diff...Table 5.8 Nitrogen flux in the Camaleão Lake over an area of 650 ha from ...Table 5.9 Nitrogen input and output fluxes from várzea forest at Cama...Table 5.10 Annual cycle of economic activities of the riparian human popu...

3 Chapter 6Table 6.1 Selected major deltas in the world.

4 Chapter 7Table 7.1 Source to sink response of the Ganga River since MIS 3.

5 Chapter 8Table 8.1 Impact of dams and reservoirs on large rivers.

6 Chapter 10Table 10.1 Measurements on the Mekong.Table 10.2 The Mekong: summary of river units, south of China border.

7 Chapter 11Table 11.1 Global rank and countries encompassed by each of the five larg...Table 11.2 Climate regions based on soil water balance (after Strahler an...Table 11.3 Climate regions of the Russian large arctic rivers based on qu...Table 11.4 Global rank of the five largest arctic rivers by discharge.Table 11.5 Sub-basins of Mackenzie River above Arctic Red River station: areas a...Table 11.6 Recorded hydrologic changes (1966–1996).Table 11.7 Sediment in large arctic rivers.Table 11.8 Specific sediment yield for the mountain tributaries of Macken...Table 11.9 Estimates of annual suspended load for main tributaries based ...Table 11.10 Mean monthly fine sediment loads (in 10 6t) for delta-head ri...Table 11.11 Estimates of mean annual suspended sediment load at four benc...Table 11.12 Changing water and sediment pattern in Siberian hydrometric s...Table 11.13 Baseline infomation for two of the four ACIA regions (Central...

8 Chapter 12Table 12.1 Common gases that produce enhanced greenhouse effect.

1 Chapter 1 Figure 1.1 A sketch map showing the location of 24 large rivers in the world... Figure 1.2 The Mekong. (a) On rock, downstream of Chiang Saen, northern Thai...

2 Chapter 2 Figure 2.1 Schematic illustration of the relation between structure and morp... Figure 2.2 Longitudinal profile of the Nile over varying regional structures... Figure 2.3 Diagrammatic sketches of cross-sections of the Mekong River in ro...

3 Chapter 3 Figure 3.1 Average discharges of (a) suspended sediment and (b) water in the... Figure 3.2 Average annual hydrograph of selected large rivers as examples: t... Figure 3.3 Diagram showing average annual sediment movement between channels... Figure 3.4 Satellite image showing plumes of sediment entering the Atlantic ... Figure 3.5 The Ganga River. Changes in the grain size of bar material from H...

4 Chapter 4 Figure 4.1 At least 10 m high midchannel bar in the Brahmaputra at Sirajganj... Figure 4.2 Schematic network of a large river. Compare with the satellite im... Figure 4.3 Schematic sketch of the megafan of the Kosi River. Figure 4.4 The Amazon: Generalised geology and course. Figure 4.5 The Amazon from satellite imagery. Figure 4.6 Structural control at the Amazon-Negro confluence. In Brazil the ... Figure 4.7 The Ganga from satellite imagery. Figure 4.8 The Ganga from satellite imagery in alluvium, bars and bends. Figure 4.9 Diagrammatic sketch of the Irrawaddy leaving an alluvial segment ...

5 Chapter 5Figure 5.1 Major Brazilian rivers and wetlands.Figure 5.2 Mean annual water level fluctuations of major Brazilian rivers be...

6 Chapter 6Figure 6.1 Delta landforms. Adapted from Gupta 2011.Figure 6.2 The Effect of at the tropical cyclone Nargis on the Irrawaddy del...Figure 6.3 Location of major deltas in the world: 1, Amazon; 2, Ganga-Brahma...Figure 6.4 Different types of deltas.Figure 6.5 Photograph of a tidal creek through mangrove forest, Sundarbans, ...Figure 6.6 Physiographic and tectonic map of the Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta.