Tolentino, Pamela Louise M, Perez, John Edward G, Guardian, Esmael L, Boothroyd, Richard J 
ORCID: 0000-0001-9742-4229, Hoey, Trevor B, Williams, Richard D, Fryirs, Kirstie A, Brierley, Gary J and David, Carlos Primo C
(2022)
River Styles and stream power analysis reveal the diversity of fluvial morphology in a Philippine tropical catchment
GEOSCIENCE LETTERS, 9 (1).
6-.
ISSN 2196-4092, 2196-4092
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Tolentino_et_al_2022.pdf - Open Access published version Download (5MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Characterisation of hydromorphological attributes is crucial for effective river management. Such information is often overlooked in tropical regions such as the Philippines where river management strategies mainly focus on issues around water quality and quantity. We address this knowledge gap using the River Styles Framework as a template to identify the diversity of river morphodynamics. We identify eight distinct River Styles (river types) in the Bislak catchment (586 km2) in the Philippines, showing considerable geomorphic diversity within a relatively small catchment area. Three River Styles in a Confined valley setting occupy 57% of the catchment area, another three in a partly confined valley setting occupy 37%, and two in the remaining 6% are found in a laterally unconfined valley setting. Five characteristic downstream patterns of River Styles were identified across the catchment. We observe that variation in channel slope for a given catchment area (i.e., total stream power) is insufficient to differentiate between river types. Hence, topographic analyses should be complemented with broader framed, catchment-specific approaches to river characterisation. The outputs and understandings from the geomorphic analysis of rivers undertaken in this study can support river management applications by explicitly incorporating understandings of river diversity and dynamics. This has the potential to reshape how river management is undertaken, to shift from reactive, engineering-based approaches that dominate in the Philippines, to more sustainable, ecosystem-based approaches to management.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Tropical river, Topographic controls, River Styles, Catchment, River management, Fluvial geomorphology |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Science & Engineering > School of Environmental Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 07 Aug 2023 07:42 |
| Last Modified: | 16 Jun 2026 15:41 |
| DOI: | 10.1186/s40562-022-00211-4 |
| Open Access URL: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40562-022-00211-4 |
| Related Websites: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3172042 |
| Disclaimer: | The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate. |
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