Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

CS33 Lotic Habitats: Nutrients to Landscapes

Date: Tuesday, February 13, 2001, Time: 4:15:00 PM

Location: Cimmarron

Hamilton, S, K, Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, USA, hamilton@kbs.msu.edu

Sippel, S, J, Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, USA, sippel@kbs.msu.edu

Melack, J, M, Institute for Computational Earth System Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA, melack@lifesci.ucsb.edu

COMPARISON OF INUNDATION PATTERNS AMONG THE SIX MAJOR SAVANNA FLOODPLAINS OF SOUTH AMERICA

Information on the spatial and temporal variability of inundation is fundamental to understand and manage floodplain ecosystems. Flooded area was determined from the 37-GHz polarization difference observed by the Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer, operated on board the Nimbus-7 satellite from 1979-87. The results allow comparison of inundation patterns among six major savanna floodplains of South America: 1) The Pantanal wetland in Brazil; 2) The Llanos de Moxos in Bolivia; 3) The Orinoco Llanos of Venezuela and Colombia; 4) The savannas of Roraima in Brazil; 5) The savannas near the lower Branco River in Brazil; and 6) Bananal Island on the Araguaia River in Brazil. These observations provide a detailed view of spatial and temporal patterns in inundation that is concurrent and methodologically consistent, and hence amenable to intercomparison. Comparison of the inundation patterns among these floodplains reveals similarities in the annual flood pulse, but also shows unique hydrological features of each region that help explain their distinct ecological characteristics. Interannual variability in maximum inundation area is large in these savanna floodplains but seasonal drying is generally more predictable.

Return to This Session's Schedule · Complete Session Listing ·

Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

Quicklinks