River Styles and stream power analysis reveal the diversity of fluvial morphology in a Philippine tropical catchment

Tolentino, P. L. M., Perez, J. E. G., Guardian, E. L., Boothroyd, R. J. , Hoey, T. B. , Williams, R. D. , Fryirs, K. A., Brierley, G. J. and David, C. P. C. (2022) River Styles and stream power analysis reveal the diversity of fluvial morphology in a Philippine tropical catchment. Geoscience Letters, 9, 6. (doi: 10.1186/s40562-022-00211-4)

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: Articles
• Keywords: Research letter, tropical river, topographic controls, river styles, catchment, river management, fluvial geomorphology.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Williams, Professor Richard and Boothroyd, Dr Richard and Hoey, Professor Trevor and Tolentino, Miss Pammie
• Authors: Tolentino, P. L. M., Perez, J. E. G., Guardian, E. L., Boothroyd, R. J., Hoey, T. B., Williams, R. D., Fryirs, K. A., Brierley, G. J., and David, C. P. C.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
• Journal Name: Geoscience Letters
• Publisher: SpringerOpen
• ISSN: 2196-4092
• ISSN (Online): 2196-4092
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Geoscience Letters 9: 6
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
303063		Catchment susceptibility to hydrometeorological events: sediment flux and geomorphic change as drivers of flood risk in the Philippines	Richard Williams	Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)	NE/S003312/1	GES - Geography