Original paper
The flood pulse concept of large rivers: learning from the tropics
Junk, W. J.
Large Rivers Vol. 11 No. 3 (1999), p. 261 - 280
59 references
published: Dec 20, 1999
ArtNo. ESP142011503003, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
River-floodplain systems are specific ecosystems with very complex land-water interactions and a highly adapted flora and fauna. In temperate zones, they have been intensively modified by man for many decades, and only small areas are left in a relatively undisturbed condition. Furthermore, the impact of the flood pulse is often camouflaged by the annual temperature/light pulse. In the humid tropics there are still large undisturbed river-floodplain systems, where the impact of the flood pulse can be studied without the interference of the temperature/light pulse. The flood pulse concept is presented and its implications for temperate river-floodplain systems are discussed.
Keywords
flood pulse concept • large river • river-floodplain system