What are the criteria for the classification of rivers? how to evaluate them? can any one help me to classify one of Algerian rivers?
Hello dear colleague
take look at :
https://www.dwaf.gov.za/iwqs/rhp/eco/EcoStatus/ModuleA_EcoStatus/ModuleA_EcoClassification.pdf
good luck
Dear Fatima,
criteria can be chemical (BOD, oxygen, nutrients; salinity; toxic substances, ...) hydrological, morphological or ecological (macrozoobenthos, fish, water plants, algae). Based on earlier methods like Saprobic index (benthic organisms indicating for BOD and O2) and river morphology and motivated by the European Water Framework Directive (EU-WFD) many different methods have been developed, especially during the last few years, see summary:
http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/92-9167-001-4/page021.html
or see:
http://wiki.reformrivers.eu/index.php/Morphological_assessment
or
http://www.aqem.de
and the many links therein.
Thomas
The Rosgen classification system is a widely-used method for classifying streams and rivers based on common patterns of channel morphology:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/watertrain/moduleFrame.cfm?parent_object_id=1189
Another alternative classification system based on morphology is Montgomery-Buffington:
http://www.csus.edu/indiv/h/hornert/Geol%20230%20Spring%202013/Week%201%20stream%20class/Montgomery%20and%20Buffington%201997.pdf
http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/boise/publications/watershed/rmrs_1998_montomeryr001.pdf
http://www.fgmorph.com/fg_4_11.php
Hi Fatima,
Can you be more specific with regards to why you need to classify the river? A lot of the river classifications are somewhat skewed towards temperate climates and practically all classifications have an empirical bias of sorts. Some are heavily focussed on the physical aspects... It would be useful to know the rationale behind the classification, as some are more suited than others.
I hope that helps. Good luck. Arjan
The EU-waterframework directive (WFD) imposes a monitoring of a.o. physical characteristics of rivers. This link provides to the benchmark report: http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/92-9167-001-4 . I was always impressed form the UK and the German method.
- Badges
- Science topic