Abstract
Meandering rivers have a number of features that differentiate them from rectilinear and anastomosing channels, such as the rapid change of course, which is the result of continuous adjustments of hydro-sedimentary factors. Studying these changes helps to inform on the potential future changes, and generates valuable data for landuse planning. This study aims to identify the morphological changes in the lower Correntes River between 1984 and 2016, and generate information that is currently scarce about the watershed. A temporal analysis of migrating meanders using remote sensing, literature search, and field work was conducted. This river is highly mobile with lateral and downstream migration, exhibiting a rectilinear channel tendency as shown by the decreased sinuosity between 1984 and 2016. This trend reflects channel adjustment in relation to hydro-sedimentary factors. Because the upstream hydroelectric dam retained sediment and enhanced flow velocity, erosion and meander migration increased. In addition to the channel modification, the dam caused observable changes to the river stage and discharge
Highlights
Fluvial channels are often described as rectilinear, anastomosed, or meandering
With an area of ~5,410 km2, its hydrographic basin is divided between Mato Grosso (MT) with 2,131 km2 and Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) States with 3,279 km2 (Figure 1)
It is characterized by a topographic gradient of only 0.12 m/km, in contrast to the average gradient of 2.26 m/km identified on the plateau (Figure 4)
Summary
Fluvial channels are often described as rectilinear, anastomosed, or meandering. Anastomosed systems are characterized by a significant bedload and river discharge that can form several channels which diverge and converge along the river channel. According to Christofoletti (1981) the term ‘meander’ originates from the Maiandros River in Turkey. This term defines a type of river channel characterized by sinuous, wide uniform curves. It is an open system seeking a state of stability through continuous excavation in the concave margin and deposition in the convex margin (Langbein et al, 1966). For Guerra et al (2009), a meandering channel can be differentiated from other channel patterns by the sinuosity index, which in this case must be > 1.5
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