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：亚马逊河的一条再分支的巨型河流面临迫在眉睫的破坏马德拉河是亚马逊河流域最大的支流，它将在2012年底前被筑坝。 该项目将收集人类干预前的水文地貌和水力信息。主要目标是a）分析河流形态动力学，以了解控制这条巨河中分支模式发展的机制（这一信息将作为审查人为影响的基准）; B）确定河漫滩的地质环境镶嵌图和控制其演变和建筑风格的地貌沉积过程，以及c）提供预测性数学工具，并产生管理分支河流的新概念。 在巴西的实地工作，使用从韦略港到乌迈塔的基于研究船的调查，将跨越马德拉河在调节之前的流量，在低水位和高水位阶段进行调查。该项目提供了一个独特的和最后的机会，研究亚马逊河最大支流的动力学和形态，然后再筑坝。研究人员将与巴西同事合作，在2012年进行两次探险-在低水位和高水位。除了对所谓的“巨型河流”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将是评估和模拟大坝对亚马逊河和亚马逊羽流的短期和中期影响的基础，因为沉积物和水通量的改变。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.