Observations On Some Upper Amazonian Wetlands ...

Observations On Some Upper Amazonian Wetlands of SE Peru Ethan Householder

Ranjan Muttiah

Abstract # H22A-02

Suresh Khanal

Study Region La Escena Wetlands of Madre de Dios, Peru Madre de Dios River

Swamp

Remote Sensing: Classification of Swamps

Frequency

- 300+ swamps 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0

- 30,000+ ha - 5 – 10% of floodplain - Average size of_100 ha

20

50

100

200

500 1000 2000 4000

Swamp Hectarage

200 km

Waters

• ph ~5 • Thermally stratified • Low conductivity

Dissected Terrain

Dios

Pampas de Heath

Ipiruru

1. Subsurface inflow from terrace 2. Cut into impermeable layer

300

North Terrace

3. Independent of river

Elevation (m)

290 280

Swamp

South Terrace

270 260

Seep

250

Floodplain

240 230 0

5

10

15

Distance

20

25

Swamp Bed Topography

10 meters

Seeps

3 meters 0 meters

Floodplain

Seeps

Hydrology - Dry season

Sensor Location

- Permanently flooded - Maximum fluctuation ~30cm - Puddle-Pool Dynamics 4 100

Rain (mm/h)

10

1

1

2

Jultime 2005 vs watertemp -1m Jultime 2005 vs soiltemp-50cm Jultime 2005 vs soiltemp-10cm Jultime 2005 vs airtemp+10cm

3

No data

0.1

Water level change (cm)

0.01 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 240

245

250

255

260

265

270

275

280

285

290

295

300

305

310

Day of Year 2005

Source: Horna, Zimmerman, Kuppers 2006

4 100

Rain (mm/h)

10

Puddles Filling

1

1


No data

0.1


0.01 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 240

245

250

255

260

265

270

275

280

285

290

295

300

305

310

Day of Year 2005


Runoff

- Gradient towards basins - Increased Storage in basins ET

Subsurface Flow

Impermeable layer

- No change in center

45


Puddles forming

2

No data

250

255

260

265

270

275

280

285

290

295

300

305

310

Day of Year 2005


- Puddles independent

ET

- Local ET rates

Runoff

- Decrease in Center - Large Decrease in Storage Subsurface Flow Impermeable layer

45


Puddles forming

2

No data

250

255

260

265

270

275

280

285

290

295

300

305

310

Day of Year 2005



ET

- Local ET rates

Runoff


45


Puddles forming

2

No data

250

255

260

265

270

275

280

285

290

295

300

305

310

Day of Year 2005



ET

- Local ET rates

Runoff


60


Pooling

3

No data

265

270

275

280

285

290

295

300

305

310

Day of Year 2005


Runoff

- Maximum Storage ET + outflow

- Basins act as single unit - Pulses in center

Subsurface Flow

Impermeable layer

4 100

Rain (mm/h)

10

1

1

2


3

No data

0.1


0.01 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 240

245

250

255

260

265

270

275

280

285

290

295

300

305

310

Day of Year 2005


Puddle-Pool Dynamics

Runoff

Subsurface Flow

Impermeable layer

-

Uplands are critical

-

Control on Vegetation

Summary - Important aspect of landscape - Conglomeration of multiple meander scars - Puddle-pool dynamics - Dependence on terrace and upland forests

Acknowledgements John Janovec Mathias Tobler Viviana Horna Reiner Zimmerman Dario Cruz Javier Huinga Moore Foundation ACA/ACCA More Info: www.andesamazon.org Coming soon: