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Global scale analysis on the extent of river channel belts

Author

Listed:
  • Björn Nyberg

    (University of Bergen
    Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research)

  • Gijs Henstra

    (AkerBP ASA)

  • Rob L. Gawthorpe

    (University of Bergen)

  • Rodmar Ravnås

    (AkerBP ASA)

  • Juha Ahokas

    (AkerBP ASA)

Abstract

Rivers form channel belts that encompass the area of the river channel and its associated levees, bars, splays and overbank landforms. The channel belt is critical for understanding the physical river evolution through time, predicting river behavior and management of freshwater resources. To date, there is no global-scale, quantitative study of the extent of river channel belts. Here we show, based on a pattern recognition algorithm, the global surface area of channel belts at an approximate 1 km resolution is 30.5 × 105 km2, seven times larger than the extent of river channels. We find 52% of river channels associated with the channel belts have a multi-threaded planform with the remaining 48% being single-threaded by surface area. The global channel belt (GCB) datasets provide new methods for high-resolution global scale landform classifications and for incorporating the channel belt into flood mitigation, freshwater budgets, ecosystem accounting and biogeochemical analyses.

Suggested Citation

  • Björn Nyberg & Gijs Henstra & Rob L. Gawthorpe & Rodmar Ravnås & Juha Ahokas, 2023. "Global scale analysis on the extent of river channel belts," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-37852-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37852-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jean-François Pekel & Andrew Cottam & Noel Gorelick & Alan S. Belward, 2016. "High-resolution mapping of global surface water and its long-term changes," Nature, Nature, vol. 540(7633), pages 418-422, December.
    2. Mathis Loïc Messager & Bernhard Lehner & Günther Grill & Irena Nedeva & Oliver Schmitt, 2016. "Estimating the volume and age of water stored in global lakes using a geo-statistical approach," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-11, December.
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