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Titel |
Flooding dynamics in a large low-gradient alluvial fan, the Okavango Delta, Botswana, from analysis and interpretation of a 30-year hydrometric record |
VerfasserIn |
P. Wolski, M. Murray-Hudson |
Medientyp |
Artikel
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Sprache |
Englisch
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ISSN |
1027-5606
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Digitales Dokument |
URL |
Erschienen |
In: Hydrology and Earth System Sciences ; 10, no. 1 ; Nr. 10, no. 1 (2006-02-21), S.127-137 |
Datensatznummer |
250007920
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Publikation (Nr.) |
copernicus.org/hess-10-127-2006.pdf |
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Zusammenfassung |
The Okavango Delta is a flood-pulsed wetland, which supports a large
tourism industry and the subsistence of the local population through
the provision of ecosystem services. In order to obtain insight into
the influence of various environmental factors on flood propagation
and distribution in this system, an analysis was undertaken of a
30-year record of hydrometric data (discharges and water levels)
from one of the Delta distributaries. The analysis revealed that
water levels and discharges at any given channel site in this
distributary are influenced by a complex interplay of flood wave and
local rainfall inputs, modified by channel-floodplain interactions,
in-channel sedimentation and technical interventions, both at the
given site and upstream. Additionally, cyclical variation of channel
vegetation due to intermittent nutrient loading, possibly sustained
by nutrient recycling, may play a role. It is shown that short and
long-term flood dynamics are mainly due to variation in floodplain
flows. As a consequence, discharge data collected within the main
channels of distributaries do not adequately represent flooding
dynamics in the system. The paper contributes to the understanding
of seasonal and long-term flood pulsing and their variation in low
gradient systems of channels and floodplains. |
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