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：一条亚马逊河支流面临迫在眉睫的破坏马德拉河是亚马逊河流域最大的排水和泥沙运输支流，将于2012年底建成大坝。该项目将在人为干预之前收集水文地貌和水力信息。主要目标是：a)分析河流形态动力学，以了解控制这条大河支流形态发展的机制（这些信息将作为检查人为影响的基线）；B)确定河漫滩的地质环境马赛克和控制其演化和建筑风格的形态沉积过程；c)提供预测数学工具，并为支流管理提供新概念。在巴西的实地工作，将使用基于研究船的调查，从Porto Velho到Humaita，将跨越马德拉河在调节之前的流量，在低潮和高水位阶段进行调查。这个项目提供了一个独特的和最后的机会来研究亚马逊河最大的支流在筑坝之前的动态和形态。研究人员将与巴西同事合作，在2012年进行两次考察——在低潮和高潮。除了对所谓的“大河”的运作提供罕见的见解外，从这些考察中获得的结果和数据库对于评估和模拟由于沉积物和水通量的改变而造成的大坝对亚马逊河和亚马逊河羽流的短期和中期影响至关重要。该项目将支持研究生和本科生的跨学科教育和培训，其结果预计将为参与亚马逊流域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.