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The ecohydrology of stream networks

Harris, Celeste ; Thoms, Martin C. and Scown, Murray LU (2009) Symposium JS.1 at the Joint Convention of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences, IAHS and the International Association of Hydrogeologists, IAH In IAHS-AISH publication 328. p.127-136
Abstract

Stream ordering approaches to the study of entire stream networks are relatively simple and provide only crude estimations of the physical makeup of river ecosystems. These fail to acknowledge the importance of the hierarchical organisation of rivers and consequently use very crude variables when characterising stream networks. We provide an alternative typology for characterising the physical structure of rivers, which focuses on a specific level within the geomorphic river hierarchy, and employs a set of regional, catchment and valley criteria for developing a quantitative river characterisation scheme. Fifteen geomorphic variables were extracted from digital data using automated geographic information system modules and evaluated... (More)

Stream ordering approaches to the study of entire stream networks are relatively simple and provide only crude estimations of the physical makeup of river ecosystems. These fail to acknowledge the importance of the hierarchical organisation of rivers and consequently use very crude variables when characterising stream networks. We provide an alternative typology for characterising the physical structure of rivers, which focuses on a specific level within the geomorphic river hierarchy, and employs a set of regional, catchment and valley criteria for developing a quantitative river characterisation scheme. Fifteen geomorphic variables were extracted from digital data using automated geographic information system modules and evaluated using a series of multivariate analyses. This allowed distinct river types within a stream network to emerge. Our approach was demonstrated in the Ovens River, Australia. The physical structure of the Ovens River stream network was further analysed using a series of community metrics: richness, composition and diversity of river types.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Complex systems, Geographic information system (GIS), Physical diversity, River characterisation, Riverine networks
host publication
Ecohydrology of Surface and Groundwater Dependent Systems: Concepts, Methods and Recent Developments
series title
IAHS-AISH publication
volume
328
pages
10 pages
publisher
IAHS Press
conference name
Symposium JS.1 at the Joint Convention of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences, IAHS and the International Association of Hydrogeologists, IAH
conference location
Hyderabad, India
conference dates
2009-09-06 - 2009-09-12
external identifiers
  • scopus:78951486462
ISSN
0144-7815
ISBN
9781901502992
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
ef20c967-4b7c-4322-9024-aa1923f618cb
date added to LUP
2017-02-20 13:54:10
date last changed
2022-02-22 00:45:50
@inproceedings{ef20c967-4b7c-4322-9024-aa1923f618cb,
  abstract     = {{<p>Stream ordering approaches to the study of entire stream networks are relatively simple and provide only crude estimations of the physical makeup of river ecosystems. These fail to acknowledge the importance of the hierarchical organisation of rivers and consequently use very crude variables when characterising stream networks. We provide an alternative typology for characterising the physical structure of rivers, which focuses on a specific level within the geomorphic river hierarchy, and employs a set of regional, catchment and valley criteria for developing a quantitative river characterisation scheme. Fifteen geomorphic variables were extracted from digital data using automated geographic information system modules and evaluated using a series of multivariate analyses. This allowed distinct river types within a stream network to emerge. Our approach was demonstrated in the Ovens River, Australia. The physical structure of the Ovens River stream network was further analysed using a series of community metrics: richness, composition and diversity of river types.</p>}},
  author       = {{Harris, Celeste and Thoms, Martin C. and Scown, Murray}},
  booktitle    = {{Ecohydrology of Surface and Groundwater Dependent Systems: Concepts, Methods and Recent Developments}},
  isbn         = {{9781901502992}},
  issn         = {{0144-7815}},
  keywords     = {{Complex systems; Geographic information system (GIS); Physical diversity; River characterisation; Riverine networks}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{127--136}},
  publisher    = {{IAHS Press}},
  series       = {{IAHS-AISH publication}},
  title        = {{The ecohydrology of stream networks}},
  volume       = {{328}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}