Large Rivers

Large Rivers: Geomorphology and Management explores an
important topic in geomorphology and sedimentology: the form and
function of major rivers. Our knowledge of the big rivers of the
world is limited. It is currently difficult to recognise large
rivers of the past from relict sedimentary deposits or to structure
management policies for long international rivers.

This exciting book brings together a set of papers on large
rivers of the world, as a unique introduction to a demanding
subject. The book includes thirty chapters and is organised into
three sections. The first part is on the environmental requirements
for creating and maintaining a major river system. The second is a
collection of case studies on 14 large rivers from different
continents, covering a range of physical environments. The third
section includes chapters on the measurement and management of
large rivers.

• First book to offer in a single volume state-of-the-art
  knowledge on management and geomorphology of large rivers of the
  world

• A pioneering study, pushing the boundaries of our knowledge
  related to big rivers

• Includes comprehensive case studies covering the major large
  rivers of the world including Amazon, Mississippi, Nile, Congo,
  Indus, and Mekong

• Written by a leading team of distinguished, international
  contributors

Large Rivers: Geomorphology and Management is essential
reading for postgraduate students and researchers in fluvial
geomorphology, hydrology, sedimentary geology, and river
management. It is also of relevance to engineers and environmental
consultants in the private and public sectors working on major
rivers of the world.

Auteur
Avijit Gupta, School of Geography, University of Leeds, UK, and Visiting Scientist, Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing, National University of Singapore.

Texte du rabat
Large Rivers: Geomorphology and Management explores an important topic in geomorphology and sedimentology: the form and function of major rivers. Our knowledge of the big rivers of the world is limited. It is currently difficult to recognise large rivers of the past from relict sedimentary deposits or to structure management policies for long international rivers. This volume brings together a substantial number of chapters on large rivers to form possibly the first structured introduction to this demanding subject. The distinguished contributors to Large Rivers have a long association with rivers of considerable dimensions. The book includes thirty chapters organised into three sections. The first part is on the environmental requirements for creating and maintaining a major river system. The second is a collection of case studies on 14 large rivers from different continents, covering a range of physical environments. The third section includes chapters on the measurement and management of large rivers.

This comprehensive volume should be essential reading for postgraduate students and researchers in fluvial geomorphology, hydrology, sedimentary geology, and river management. It will be of relevance to engineers and environmental consultants in the private and public sectors working on major rivers of the world. Large Rivers is a pioneering study that hopefully will generate enough interest and controversy to push the boundaries of our knowledge related to big rivers. It may even contribute towards preventing their channels and basins from random or organised mismanagement.

Contenu

Preface xvii

List of Contributors xix

**1 Introduction 1
Avijit Gupta

1.1 A Book on Large Rivers 1

1.2 What is a Large River? 2

1.3 The Book and its Content 2

References 4

Part I: Background

**2 Geology of Large River Systems 7
Sampat K. Tandon and Rajiv Sinha

2.1 Introduction 7

2.2 Tectonic Settings of Large River Systems 8

2.2.1 Rivers in Continental Collision Belts 9

2.2.2 Rivers in Rift Settings 10

2.2.3 Rivers in Cratonic Settings 10

2.3 Complexity of Drainage Types 11

2.4 Large Rivers Climatic Settings and Climatic Variability 13

2.5 Modern Large Rivers Hydrology and Sediment Dispersal 15

2.6 Variability in the Alluvial Architecture of Large River Systems 17

2.6.1 Longitudinal Trunk Systems 18

2.6.2 Radial Fans 20

2.6.3 FanInterfan Setting 20

2.6.4 Interfluves 20

2.7 Growth and Development of Large River Systems 21

2.8 Duration of Large River Systems and the Rock Record 22

2.9 Sea Level, Tectonic and Climatic Controls on the Large River Systems 22

2.10 Concluding Remarks 24

Acknowledgements 25

References 25

**3 Hydrology and Discharge 29
Ellen E. Wohl

3.1 Hydrology of Large River Basins 29

3.2 Large Rivers of the Equatorial Regions 32

3.2.1 Amazon River 32

3.2.2 Congo River 35

3.2.3 Zambezi River 35

3.3 Large Rivers of the Drylands 35

3.3.1 Nile River 35

3.3.2 Indus River 36

3.3.3 Colorado River 36

3.3.4 Murray-Darling River 36

3.4 Rivers of the Mid-latitudes 37

3.4.1 Mississippi River 37

3.4.2 Danube River 37

3.5 Rivers Draining South from the Himalaya 37

3.5.1 Ganga River 38

3.5.2 Brahmaputra River 38

3.6 Rivers of East and Southeast Asia 38

3.6.1 Huanghe 38

3.6.2 Changjiang 39

3.6.3 Mekong River 39

3.7 High-latitude Rivers 39

3.7.1 Ob, Yenisey and Lena Rivers 40

3.7.2 Mackenzie and Yukon Rivers 40

3.8 Summary 40

Acknowledgements 41

References 41

**4 Transcontinental Moving and Storage: The Orinoco and Amazon Rivers Transfer the Andes to the Atlantic 45
Robert H. Meade

4.1 Introduction 45

4.2 Andean Sources and Alluvial Storage 45

4.3 Orinoco 47

4.4 Amazon 49

4.4.1 Setting 49

4.4.2 Storage and Remobilization of Floodplain Sediment 52

4.4.3 Sediment Storage in the Lowermost Amazon Valley 57

4.5 The Amazon Goes to Sea 57

4.6 Coda 59

Acknowledgements 60

References 60

**5 Greatest Floods and Largest Rivers 65
Victor R. Baker

5.1 Introduction 65

5.2 Historical Background 65

5.3 Terrestrial Glacial Megafloods 66

5.3.1 Cordilleran Ice Sheet 66

5.3.2 Laurentide Ice Sheet 66

5.3.3 Eurasian Ice Sheets 68

5.3.4 Central Asian Mountains 70

5.4 Extraterrestrial Megafloods and Megarivers 71

5.5 Conclusion 72

References 72

**6 Classification, Architecture, and Evolution of Large-River Deltas 75
Kazuaki Hori and Yoshiki Saito

6.1 Introduction 75

6.2 Definition of a Delta and Delta Components 77

6.3 Classification of Deltas 79

6.4 Morphology and Sediment 82

6.4.1 Morphology 82

6.4.2 Sediments and Sediment Facies 85

6.4.3 Sediment Accumulation Rates 86

6.5 Delta Evolution 87

6.5.1 Response to Holocene Sea-Level Change 87 6.5.2 Changes in the Course of a River C...