Eco-morphodynamic carbon pumping of the world’s large tropical rivers
Abstract
The eco-morphodynamic activity of large tropical rivers interacts with riparian vegetation causing implications for the carbon cycle within inland waters. Through a multi-temporal analysis of satellite data spanning the years 2000–2019, we analyzed rivers exceeding 200 m in width across the tropical regions, revealing a Carbon Pump mechanism driving an annual mobilization of 12.45 million tons of organic carbon. River morphodynamics is shown to drive carbon export from the riparian zone and to promote net primary production by an integrated process through floodplain rejuvenation and colonization. The study identifies fluvial eco-morphological signatures as proxies for carbon mobilization, emphasizing the link between river migration and carbon dynamics. Our findings are instrumental in determining the carbon intensity of future hydropower dams, thereby contributing to informed decision-making in the realm of sustainable energy infrastructure. This study elucidates the intricate relationships that govern the nexus of tropical river dynamics, riparian ecosystems, and the global carbon cycle.
Short bio
Luca Salerno is a researcher at the Department of Environmental, Land, and Infrastructure Engineering at the Politecnico di Torino, where he earned his Ph.D. in 2022. His research focuses on the interaction between fluvial morphodynamics and tropical riparian vegetation, particularly their role in the fluvial carbon cycle. He has developed expertise in global satellite imagery analysis, remote sensing for riverine systems, and mathematical modeling, with programming proficiency on platforms such as Google Earth Engine.
Salerno's Ph.D. project applied a physically based eco-geomorphological framework to evaluate rivers' capacity to drive carbon sequestration. His work has demonstrated that river morphodynamics not only influence carbon export from riparian zones but also stimulate net primary production by rejuvenating floodplains and facilitating vegetation colonization. In a recent study, he introduced a high-resolution mapping algorithm for monitoring tropical forests in the Amazon basin, specifically applied to the Uatama River, illustrating how river regulation reshapes floodplain ecosystems, with significant implications for carbon storage and productivity.
The eco-morphodynamic activity of large tropical rivers interacts with riparian vegetation causing implications for the carbon cycle within inland waters. Through a multi-temporal analysis of satellite data spanning the years 2000–2019, we analyzed rivers exceeding 200 m in width across the tropical regions, revealing a Carbon Pump mechanism driving an annual mobilization of 12.45 million tons of organic carbon. River morphodynamics is shown to drive carbon export from the riparian zone and to promote net primary production by an integrated process through floodplain rejuvenation and colonization. The study identifies fluvial eco-morphological signatures as proxies for carbon mobilization, emphasizing the link between river migration and carbon dynamics. Our findings are instrumental in determining the carbon intensity of future hydropower dams, thereby contributing to informed decision-making in the realm of sustainable energy infrastructure. This study elucidates the intricate relationships that govern the nexus of tropical river dynamics, riparian ecosystems, and the global carbon cycle.
Short bio
Luca Salerno is a researcher at the Department of Environmental, Land, and Infrastructure Engineering at the Politecnico di Torino, where he earned his Ph.D. in 2022. His research focuses on the interaction between fluvial morphodynamics and tropical riparian vegetation, particularly their role in the fluvial carbon cycle. He has developed expertise in global satellite imagery analysis, remote sensing for riverine systems, and mathematical modeling, with programming proficiency on platforms such as Google Earth Engine.
Salerno's Ph.D. project applied a physically based eco-geomorphological framework to evaluate rivers' capacity to drive carbon sequestration. His work has demonstrated that river morphodynamics not only influence carbon export from riparian zones but also stimulate net primary production by rejuvenating floodplains and facilitating vegetation colonization. In a recent study, he introduced a high-resolution mapping algorithm for monitoring tropical forests in the Amazon basin, specifically applied to the Uatama River, illustrating how river regulation reshapes floodplain ecosystems, with significant implications for carbon storage and productivity.
Practical information
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Organizer
- Prof. Olga Fink (IMOS), Prof. Alexandre Alahi (VITA), Prof. Dusan Licina (HOBEL), Prof. Alain Nussbaumer (RESSLab)
Contact
- Paolo Perona