Γεωμορφολογία και Οικολογία Ποταμών

Abstract

Αποτελεί ένα εισαγωγικό κεφάλαιο προς κατανόηση της εξέλιξης των ποταμών, σε οριζοντιογραφία, κατά μήκος τομή και διατομή, ανά τους αιώνες. Αναλύεται η έννοια της μόνιμης δίαιτας ποταμών και του μαιανδρισμού και περιγράφεται η γεωμετρία των μαιάνδρων. Το εν λόγω κεφάλαιο είναι μικρό σε έκταση, καθόσον αποτελεί αντικείμενο ειδικής επιστημονικής περιοχής των Γεωλόγων, της Γεωμορφολογίας.

The first chapter is introductory, and refers to the geomorphology on the one hand and to the ecology of rivers on the other hand. The geomorphology section aims at the understanding of the river evolution in ground plan, longitudinal section and cross section during the centuries. The terms of “steady river condition” and “meandering” are analyzed, and the meander geometry is described. In the ecology section, the river or, generally, the stream is considered as an ecosystem. In concrete terms, the transport of different forms of nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon, as well as the role of oxygen in nutrients transport and metabolism of organic substances are considered. Additionally, the term of “trophic chains” is analyzed. In the framework of considering a river as a biotope, the bed erosion and the deposition of sediments on the bed, as well as the flow velocity distribution in a cross section and along the bed are studied. Finally, the theme of water acidification in rivers is investigated.