Rivers of Southern Chile and Patagonia: Context, Cascade Process, Geomorphic Evolution and Risk Management

Description

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of rivers affected by natural and anthropogenic disturbances in the southern Chile and Patagonia. It presents a detailed description of the rivers affected by climatic extremes, volcanic eruptions, large-wood dynamics and impacts, sediment-laden flows, and Glacier Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). Moreover, it contains an in-depth discussion of a variety of topics encompassing the ecosystem function of Pacific Patagonia rivers, the geomorphic signatures of Glacier Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and their impacts within river corridors, as well as the assessment of the associated natural hazards and risks. Further, it provides proposals for public and territorial policies that improve the management and sustainable strategies of the hazards and risks. This book is conceived by leading researchers of the Universidad Austral de Chile and includes contributions by distinguished scholars from around the world. It attracts a wide range of readers, including scientific community, researchers, undergraduate and graduate students, and policy makers from Chile and abroad. Foreword Preface Contents About the Editors 1 An Introduction to the Rivers of Southern Chile and Patagonia 1.1 Introduction and Context 1.2 Climatology, Precipitation and Temperature Regimes 1.3 Hydrological Regimes 1.4 Concluding Remarks References 2 Landscape Disturbance and Ecosystem Function of Pacific Patagonia Rivers 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Base-Line Disturbance Regimes in Patagonian River Networks 2.3 Landscape-Scale Disturbances in Patagonia and Riverine Ecosystem Function 2.4 Synthesis and Recommendations for Geomorphology and Ecosystem Research References 3 San Pedro River: A Biological and Cultural Treasure in Northern Patagonia 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Characteristics, Origin and Morphometry 3.3 Physicochemical Characteristics of Water and Sediments 3.4 Biological Characteristics 3.5 Paleontological Heritage 3.6 The Culture of Nature in the San Pedro River 3.7 Nature's Contributions to People and Human-Induced Stressors References 4 Large Wood Research and Learning in Chile 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Vegetation 4.3 Basins Studied and Their Characteristics 4.4 Large Wood Volumes 4.5 Origin of Large Wood in the Channels 4.6 Large Wood Mobility 4.7 Morphological Impact 4.8 Final Comments References 5 River Water Characteristics After Recent Volcanic Eruptions in Southern Chile 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Methods 5.3 Results and Discussion References 6 Deciphering the Morphologic Change in the Radial Drainage System of the Calbuco Volcano Caused by the 2015 Eruption 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Hydromorphological Evaluation, Analysis and Monitoring System of the River (IDRAIM) 6.3 Methodology 6.3.1 Data Requirements 6.3.2 Study Area 6.3.3 Hydromorphological Evaluation Method, System Analysis and Monitoring of the Watercourse (IDRAIM) 6.4 Results 6.4.1 Main Characteristics of the Study Basins 6.4.2 Geomorphological Parameters and Relief Data of the Studied Basins 6.4.3 Morphological Characterization by River Sections of the Radial System, Before and After the Eruption of the Calbuco Volcano 6.4.4 Mapping of the Morphological Characterization of the Rivers of the Radial System Before and After the April 22, 2015, Eruption 6.5 Discussion 6.5.1 Main Characteristics of the Study Basins 6.5.2 Geomorphological Parameters of the River Basins 6.5.3 Physiographic Units 6.5.4 Geomorphic Units 6.5.5 Section-Wise Morphological Characterization of the Rivers of the Radial System of the Calbuco Volcano Before and After the Eruption of the Calbuco Volcano 6.6 Conclusion References 7 Investigating the Geomorphological Footprint of Moraine-Dammed Lake Failures in Patagonian Rivers 7.1 Introduction 7.1.1 Glacier Lake Outburst Flood’s Typology 7.1.2 Geomorphological Significance of GLOFs 7.2 Study Area 7.3 Methodological Scheme 7.3.1 Selection of Control Rivers 7.3.2 Morphological Characterization of River Systems 7.3.3 Statistical Analysis of Morphological Data 7.4 Results 7.4.1 Cluster Analysis and Choice of Control Rivers 7.4.2 Morphological Characterization of the Studied Rivers 7.4.3 Morphological Classification 7.4.4 Statistical Analysis of the Morphological Parameter Values 7.5 Discussion 7.5.1 Confinement Index 7.5.2 Sinuosity Index 7.5.3 Braiding Index 7.6 Conclusions References 8 Cascading Impacts of GLOFs in Fluvial Systems: The Laguna Espontánea GLOF in Patagonia 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Data and Methods 8.2.1 Remote Sensing Analysis and Retrospective Hazard Assessment 8.2.2 Reconstruction of Flow Dynamics and Granulometric Analysis 8.3 Results 8.3.1 Retrospective Hazard Assessment 8.3.2 Flow Dynamics and Geomorphic Impact 8.4 Discussion 8.4.1 Retrospective GLOF Hazard Assessment and GLOF Triggering Factor 8.4.2 Flow Dynamics and Geomorphic Impact 8.5 Conclusions References 9 Improving the Channel Network Management After a Large Infrequent Disturbance, Taking Advantage of Sediment Connectivity Analysis 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Case Studies 9.2.1 The Rio Blanco Catchment Affected by the Chaitén Eruption 9.2.2 The Rio Blanco Este Catchment Affected by the Calbuco Eruption 9.2.3 The Rio Toro Catchment Affected by Multiple Wildfires 9.3 Discussion 9.4 Conclusions References 10 Mitigating Complex Flood Risks in Southern Chile in a Particular Spatial Planning Context: Towards a Sustainable Strategy 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Materials and Methods 10.2.1 Inventive Knowledge 10.2.2 Modelling Processes, Impacts, and Responses in the Urban-River System 10.3 Exploring the Flood Risk of the Transient Urban-River Systems 10.3.1 Essential TRIZ-TIPS Elements for Flood Risk Mitigation 10.3.2 The Participatory Decision-Making Process 10.4 Design Patterns to Enhance Flood Risk Mitigation 10.5 Unlocking and Overcoming Spatial Planning Deficiencies in Chile as an Essential Condition for Hazard Risk Mitigation 10.6 Conclusion References 11 Cascading Processes and Multiple Hazards and Risks in Chilean Rivers: Lessons Learnt and Remaining Challenges 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Defining Multiple Hazard Terminology 11.3 Assessing Risks of Multiple Hazards 11.4 Cascading Processes in a Chilean River Affected by a Volcanic Eruption 11.5 Lessons Learnt and Remaining Challenges References Index