Abstract
Meaningful iteration between place-based knowledge of rivers and generalised, theoretically-framed understandings is a significant challenge in river science and management. How can we communicate knowledge of the inherent complexity of river systems in light of managerial quests for simple, easy-to-apply frameworks that can be used by a wide range of practitioners, such that we can meaningfully transfer experiences in river science and management from one situation to another? Identification, definition, classification and naming are vital parts of this process. In a sense, a name is like a ‘brand’, for which a consistency of product is expected. The River Styles Framework is a flexible, open-ended approach to river science and management. The Framework applies a set of hierarchical principles to differentiate reaches, interpret their process-based behaviour and examine interactions between patterns of reaches at the catchment scale. Here we outline an evolution and tightening of the Framework to better communicate how to identify and name types of river at the reach scale. Like the River Styles Framework itself, the naming convention applies hierarchical procedures, starting at the valley setting scale, and incorporating analyses of river planform, channel and floodplain landforms (geomorphic units) and bed material texture. Using a series of examples from around the world, we show how this naming convention can be applied to name river reaches and can be adapted to particular purposes in a consistent, readily communicable manner. We outline various challenges that are faced in managing the use of such a naming convention.
Highlights
In recent decades there has been greater recognition of the range and importance of geomorphic river diversity, extending beyond simple differentiation of self-adjusting alluvial rivers (e.g. [1, 2]) and bedrock rivers (e.g. [3]) to include a range of partly-confined variants (e.g. [4, 5])
We propose an open-ended but structured procedure to name river types across the spectrum of river diversity, wherein new variants can be added, while maintaining consistency in the naming of river types already identified in various parts of the world
The product–a standard approach for assigning full and abbreviated names for different river types that can be applied across the spectrum of river diversity
Summary
In recent decades there has been greater recognition of the range and importance of geomorphic river diversity, extending beyond simple differentiation of self-adjusting alluvial rivers (e.g. [1, 2]) and bedrock rivers (e.g. [3]) to include a range of partly-confined variants (e.g. [4, 5]). A well-structured, hierarchical procedural tree to identify River Styles supports direct application of a naming convention to produce consistent results and names that can be effectively transferred between places and communicated to a range of audiences.
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