HR: 0800h
AN: H51E-0789    [Abstracts]
TI: Geomorphic Channel Network Analysis of a Headwater Basin in the Italian Alps
AU: * Vianello, A
EM: alessandro.vianello@unipd.it
AF: Department of Land and Agroforest Environments, University of Padova, viale dell'Universita' 16, Legnaro, PD 35020, Italy
AU: Cavalli, M
EM: marco.cavalli@irpi.cnr.it
AF: CNR-IRPI, Corso Stati Uniti 4, Padova, PD 35127, Italy
AU: Tarolli, P
EM: paolo.tarolli@unipd.it
AF: Department of Land and Agroforest Environments, University of Padova, viale dell'Universita' 16, Legnaro, PD 35020, Italy
AB: This study analyzed the variation of headwater channel geometry under bankfull conditions, and the most likely link among morphological variables in the upper Cordevole basin located in the Eastern Italian Alps. The basin is characterized by a developed ephemeral colluvial network and by a main alluvial channel dominated by rapids and step pool morphologies. The research considered the relationships between the morphological parameters of headwater channels (channel width at bankfull stage, B and local slope, S) and some variables as contributing drainage area (A) and stream power (equal to SA, where A is considered as a surrogate of the discharge). Several field surveys were carried out along the main channel and in some small tributaries in order to measure geometric (B) and morphometric (S) parameters. The hydrological variables (A, stream power) were derived from high resolution DTM. In this work we used airborne laser altimetry elevation data with an accuracy estimated to be better than 0.2 m. Furthermore, field data served as the basis to validate the results. Starting from the DTM, the relationships between morphological and hydrological variables have been investigated and then applied to the whole network. The geomorphic network analysis, obtained by the combination between detailed field surveys and an high resolution topographic representation of landscape, can be considered as an useful tool for the knowledge of morphodynamic relationships.
DE: 1804 Catchment
DE: 1825 Geomorphology: fluvial (1625)
DE: 1855 Remote sensing (1640)
DE: 1856 River channels (0483, 0744)
DE: 1860 Streamflow
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting