Optimized river diversion scenarios promote sustainability of urbanized deltas
| Autor: | Andrew J. Moodie, Jeffrey A. Nittrouer |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
Delta
Conservation of Natural Resources 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences Decision Making 010502 geochemistry & geophysics 01 natural sciences Sustainability Science Avulsion river deltas Earth Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences Rivers delta sustainability Urbanization 11. Sustainability Computer Simulation 14. Life underwater river diversion 0105 earth and related environmental sciences geography Multidisciplinary River delta geography.geographical_feature_category Landform Flooding (psychology) 15. Life on land Models Theoretical Satellite Communications 6. Clean water 13. Climate action Natural processes Sustainability Physical Sciences Environmental science avulsion Water resource management |
| Zdroj: | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
| ISSN: | 1091-6490 |
| Popis: | Significance Urbanization is widely considered to limit river-delta sustainability by inhibiting natural land-building processes that are necessary to mitigate the detrimental effects of sea-level rise and coastal storm surge. In response, billions of dollars have been spent globally to engineer river diversions that distribute water and sediment to coastlines; however, the broader cost and benefits of locating such infrastructure have not been evaluated. Here, we show that the optimal location for diversions depends on coevolution of natural river processes and tradeoffs between societal benefit and diversion cost. Our findings provide a quantitative description of nature-based solutions and will inform decision-making frameworks that seek sustainable and equitable delta and coastline landscape management strategies. Socioeconomic viability of fluvial-deltaic systems is limited by natural processes of these dynamic landforms. An especially impactful occurrence is avulsion, whereby channels unpredictably shift course. We construct a numerical model to simulate artificial diversions, which are engineered to prevent channel avulsion, and direct sediment-laden water to the coastline, thus mitigating land loss. We provide a framework that identifies the optimal balance between river diversion cost and civil disruption by flooding. Diversions near the river outlet are not sustainable, because they neither reduce avulsion frequency nor effectively deliver sediment to the coast; alternatively, diversions located halfway to the delta apex maximize landscape stability while minimizing costs. We determine that delta urbanization generates a positive feedback: infrastructure development justifies sustainability and enhanced landform preservation vis-à-vis diversions. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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