Collaborative Research: Morphodynamics of the Madeira River: an Amazonian anabranching mega-river facing imminent disruption

马德拉河的形态动力学：一条即将中断的亚马逊河支流马德拉河是亚马孙流域最大的输水和输沙支流，将于2012年底前被筑坝。该项目将在人工干预之前收集水文地貌和水力信息。主要目标是：a)分析河流地貌动力学，以了解控制该大河支流模式发展的机制(这一信息将作为检查人为影响的基线)；b)确定泛滥平原的地质环境马赛克和控制其演变和建筑风格的地形沉积过程，以及c)为支流河流的管理提供预测的数学工具和产生新的概念。在巴西的实地工作，使用从Porto Velho到Humaita的考察船调查，将在整治前跨越马德拉的水流，在枯水期和丰水期进行调查。这个项目提供了一个独特的、也是最后一个机会，在亚马逊河最大的支流被筑坝之前，研究它的动态和形态。研究人员将在2012年与巴西同事合作进行两次探险--低水位和高水位。除了对所谓的“巨型河流”的工作原理提供难得的洞察之外，从这些考察中获得的结果和数据库将是评估和模拟大坝由于沉积物和水通量变化而对亚马逊河和亚马孙羽流造成的短期和中期影响的基本依据。该项目将支持研究生和本科生的跨学科教育和培训，其成果预计将为参与亚马逊盆地环境管理的巴西和国际机构提供信息。

Morphodynamics of the Madeira River: An Amazonian Anabranching Mega-River Facing Imminent DisruptionThe Madeira River, the largest tributary in water discharge and sediment transport of the Amazon basin, will be dammed by the end of 2012. This project will collect hydrogeomorphologic and hydraulic information before human intervention. The main objectives are to a) analyze the fluvial morphodynamics to understand the mechanism controlling the development of anabranching patterns in this megariver (this information will serve as baseline for examination of anthropogenic effects); b) identify the geoenvironmental mosaic of the floodplain and the morphosedimentary processes controlling its evolution and architectural style, and c) provide predictive mathematical tools and generate new concepts for management of anabranching rivers. The field work in Brazil, using research vessel-based surveys from Porto Velho to Humaita, will span the Madeira's flow before regulation, with surveys during low and high water stages. This project provides a unique and last opportunity to study the dynamics and morphology of the largest tributary of the Amazon River before it is dammed. The researchers will collaborate with Brazilian colleagues on two expeditions in 2012--at low water and high water. In addition to providing rare insights into the workings of so-called "Mega-rivers", the results and data base obtained from these expeditions will be fundamental for assessing and modeling the short and medium-term impacts of the dam on the Amazon and the Amazon plume as a result of the alteration of sediment and water fluxes. The project will support the interdisciplinary education and training of graduate and undergraduate students, and its results are expected to inform Brazilian and international institutions involved in environmental management in the Amazon basin.