Conceptualizing River Floodplains

Earth s Future, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 13(3)

Published: March 1, 2025

Abstract Geologic, geomorphic, hydrologic, ecological, and biogeochemical conceptual models of river floodplains developed since the mid‐20th century led to current conceptualization as integrative systems that store transform diverse materials, provide a source material can be transported downstream, function ecosystems. Scientific recognition critical component corridors is not, however, matched by societal perceptions legal or regulatory frameworks, which typically treat active channel floodplain separate entities. The development an scientific understanding reviewed here, along with five primary challenges progress in managing floodplains. These involve: integrating thinking, data collection, modeling, prediction across disciplines manner facilitates work practitioners regulators; scaling time space; measuring predicting feedbacks nonlinear interactions; resilience resistance natural human‐induced disturbances; effectively communicating social technical uncertainties management.

Language: Английский

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Climate Change Impacts on Flood Pulse Characteristics in the Barotse Floodplain, Zambia

Earth s Future, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 13(3)

Published: March 1, 2025

Abstract Tens of millions livelihoods depend on floodplains, making them especially vulnerable to climate change. However, understanding how annual floods may change and impact local vulnerabilities remains limited. Daily precipitation temperature projections were obtained from five CMIP6 (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project) General Circulation Models in the Inter‐Sectoral Inter‐Comparison Project (ISIMIP). These input into a coupled hydrological‐hydraulic model Barotse Floodplain, Zambia obtain data flood pulse timing, duration, magnitude. Future decades (2030s, 2050s, 2070s) under three Shared Socio‐Economic Pathways (SSPs 1–2.6, 3–7.0, 5–8.5) compared with baseline 1990s 2000s assess Climatic indices also correlated characteristics whether driver changes could be determined. floodwaves showed reduced durations magnitudes, altered timings rise recession periods. differences significant mid‐to far‐future. Large areas floodplain experience 1‐to‐2 month reductions inundation some experienced no hydrological year for first time. The northern western escarpment, Luena Valley exhibit greatest sensitivity future changes. Floodplain will become increasingly arid all scenarios, exacerbating existing challenges transhumance communities dependent floods, who face periodic food insecurity, malnutrition, limited healthcare access. Intensified drought conditions undermine resilience livelihoods, reflecting broader faced by floodplain‐dependent globally.

Language: Английский

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Mississippi River-floodplain connectivity level mediates fish assemblage dynamics

Journal of Limnology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 84

Published: March 11, 2025

The life histories of many Louisiana fishes are tied to the timing, magnitude, and duration Mississippi River flood pulse. Anthropogenic modifications designed control restrict waters have decoupled Louisiana’s floodplains from seasonal pulse, influencing aquatic food web. Culvert rock weir repair within Richard K. Yancey Wildlife Management Area aims improve water quality maintain appropriate depth for native fishes. In this study we conducted high-resolution imaging sonar (ARIS Explorer 3000) monitoring floodplain fish assemblage across seasons prior hydrologic restoration. Imaging sonars may be used obtain quantitative ecological behavioral information without selectivity biases traditional techniques through recording continuous video-like datasets that not constrained by environmental factors such as turbidity. Our first objective was test hypothesis inundation levels proximity affect abundance size class distribution floodplain-associated assemblage. second characterize species composition function each acoustically-detected using historical fisheries collected Department Fisheries. To do so, employed multi-gear mean standardization technique standardizing catch per unit effort passive active gear types dataset in order produce a non-exhaustive list potentially recorded sonar. demonstrated dependent use habitats mediated level, but distance River. results illustrated trend increased detections all classes during high-water connected-spring summer periods, well disconnected-summer periods immediately following Continued will provide additional data better describe complex dynamic patterns exhibit response pulse restoration efforts.

Language: Английский

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Ash dieback and hydrology affect tree growth patterns under climate change in European floodplain forests

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: March 24, 2025

Abstract Floodplain forests are currently undergoing substantial reorganization processes due to the combined effects of management-induced altered hydrological conditions, climate change and novel invasive pathogens. Nowadays, ash dieback is one most concerning diseases affecting European floodplain forests, causing tree mortality threatening loss dominant key species hardwood forest, Fraxinus excelsior . Understanding how increased light availability caused by pathogen-driven in combination with conditions affects growth responses a diverse forest community crucial importance for conservation efforts. Thus, we examined main response it depended on under climatic lower upper canopy Leipzig, Germany. Our study period encompassed consecutive drought years from 2018 2020. We found that responded mostly positively availability, but only moist sites, while largely declined dry suggesting water critical factor be able benefit disturbances dieback. This effect was species-specific not canopy. While, canopy, some such as competitive shade-tolerant flood-intolerant Acer pseudoplatanus platanoides benefited others were less affected or suffered disproportionally, indicating might turn into ecosystem dominated species, which may have detrimental functioning. results give hints future important implications measures, revitalization natural dynamics maintain composition resembles existing thus sustain their status.

Language: Английский

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A review of flood mitigation benefit-cost analyses’ inclusiveness of environmental watershed effects and environmental vulnerability: gaps in progress towards more resilient flood hazard decision-making

Frontiers in Built Environment, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: March 26, 2025

US and EU flood mitigation policy both incorporate considerations of costs benefits, in recent years have taken steps to encourage accounting for positive negative effects on vulnerable populations, broader non-market environmental impacts, downstream beyond the target area projects projects. This work highlights extent which previous academic Benefit-Cost Analyses (BCA) papers comprehensively considered such project effects. We do so through a systematic, PRISMA-style, review BCA literature field hazard resilience decision-making. Our results suggest 1) most focus monetizing property damages, 2) gap exists ecosystem (especially linked model-linked estimates), 3) almost no addresses distributional or economic social vulnerability related impacts. Studies incorporating structural, environmental, questions are nonexistent. reflects need larger research approach linking depth exposure models wider non-property damage assessment. Current fails wholistically bring together relevant interdependent suggests agenda promoting consolidation methods traditional

Language: Английский

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