Articles | Volume 12, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-581-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-581-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
29 Apr 2024
Research article |
| 29 Apr 2024
| 29 Apr 2024
Riverine sediment response to deforestation in the Amazon basin
Anuska Narayanan
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Geography and the Environment, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
Sagy Cohen
Department of Geography and the Environment, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
John R. Gardner
Department of Geology and Environmental Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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We introduce a new multi-process river sediment module for Earth system models. Application and validation over the contiguous US indicate a satisfactory model performance over large river systems, including those heavily regulated by reservoirs. This new sediment module enables future modeling of the transportation and transformation of carbon and nutrients carried by the fine sediment along the river–ocean continuum to close the global carbon and nutrient cycles.
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Short summary
This study investigates the profound impact of deforestation in the Amazon on sediment dynamics. Novel remote sensing data and statistical analyses reveal significant changes, especially in heavily deforested regions, with rapid effects within a year. In less disturbed areas, a 1- to 2-year lag occurs, influenced by natural sediment shifts and human activities. These findings highlight the need to understand the consequences of human activity for our planet's future.
This study investigates the profound impact of deforestation in the Amazon on sediment dynamics....
