Rivers of Europe (eBook)

Front Cover 1
Rivers of Europe 4
Copyright Page 5
Contents 6
List of Contributors 8
Foreword 14
Preface and Acknowledgements 16
Chapter 1 Introduction to European Rivers 18
1.1. Introduction 18
1.2. Biogeographic Setting 18
1.3. Cultural and Socio-economic Setting 20
1.4. Hydrologic and Human Legacies 21
1.5. Early and Recent Human Impact 21
1.6. Temperature and Precipitation 22
1.7. Water Availability and Runoff 24
1.8. Riverine Floodplains 27
1.9. River Deltas 27
1.10. Water Quality 28
1.11. Freshwater Biodiversity 29
1.12. Environmental Pressures on Biodiversity 30
1.13. The European Water Framework Directive 35
1.14. Knowledge Gaps 35
Appendix 36
Acknowledgements 37
References 37
Further reading 37
Relevant websites 38
Chapter 2 Volga River Basin 40
2.1. Introduction 40
2.2. Human History 42
2.3. Biogeographical Setting 42
2.4. Physiography and Climate 43
2.5. Geomorphology, Hydrology, and Biogeochemistry 45
2.6. Aquatic and Riparian Biodiversity 51
2.7. Management and Conservation 58
2.8. Conclusions and Perspectives 60
2.9. Major Tributaries of the Volga River 60
References 72
Chapter 3 The Danube River Basin 76
3.1. Introduction 78
3.2. Historical Aspects 78
3.3. Palaeogeography and Geology 81
3.4. Geomorphology 82
3.5. Climate and Hydrology 82
3.6. Biogeochemistry, Water Quality and Nutrients 85
3.7. Biodiversity 90
3.8. Human Impacts, Conservation and Management 97
3.9. Major Tributaries and the Danube delta 101
3.10. Conclusion 122
Acknowledgements 122
References 123
Relevant websites 129
Chapter 4 The Iberian Rivers 130
4.1. Introduction 130
4.2. The Guadiana 133
4.3. The Guadalquivir 137
4.4. The Duero 141
4.5. The Ebro 145
4.6. The Tagus 149
4.7. Additional Rivers 153
Acknowledgements 162
References 162
Further reading 165
Relevant websites 165
Chapter 5 Continental Atlantic Rivers 168
Introduction 168
5.1. The Meuse River Basin 171
5.2. The Loire Basin 184
5.3. The Adour–Garonne Basin 199
Chapter 6 The Rhine River Basin 216
6.1. Introduction 216
6.2. Biogeographic Setting 221
6.3. Palaeogeography 222
6.4. Physiography, Climate and Land Use 223
6.5. Geomorphology, Hydrology and Biogeochemistry 224
6.6. Aquatic and Riparian Biodiversity 240
6.7. Management and Conservation 250
6.8. The Major Rhine Tributaries 253
Acknowledgements 256
References 257
Relevant websites 262
Chapter 7 The Rhône River Basin 264
7.1. Introduction 266
7.2. Biogeographic Setting 265
7.3. Physiography, Climate and Land Use 268
7.4. Geomorphology, Hydrology, and Biogeochemistry 269
7.5. Aquatic and Riparian Biodiversity 278
7.6. Management and Conservation 291
7.7. The Ain River 294
7.8. The Saone River 297
7.9. The Durance River 301
7.10. Conclusions and Perspectives 305
Acknowledgements 306
References 306
Relevant websites 312
Chapter 8 The Fennoscandian Shield 314
8.1. Introduction 314
8.2. The Rivers 322
8.3. Conclusions and Outlook 347
8.4. Acknowledgements 348
References 348
Chapter 9 Arctic Rivers 354
9.1. Introduction 355
9.2. The Altaelva River 360
9.3. The Tana River 364
9.4. The Komagelva River 368
9.5. The Varzuga River 370
9.6. The Onega River 371
9.7. The Northern Dvina River 374
9.8. The Mezen River 376
9.9. The Pechora River 377
9.10. The Geithellnaa River 383
9.11. The Laxa River 383
9.12. The Vestari Jokulsa River 386
9.13. The Bayelva River 388
Acknowledgements 390
References 390
Relevant websites 396
Chapter 10 British and Irish Rivers 398
10.1. Introduction 398
10.2. Biogeographic Setting 401
10.3. Physiography, Climate and Land Use 401
10.4. Geomorphology, Hydrology and Biogeochemistry 409
10.5. Aquatic and Riparian Biodiversity 420
10.6. Management and Conservation 427
10.7. Conclusions and Perspectives 430
References 430
Further reading 436
Chapter 11 Rivers of the Balkans 438
11.1. Introduction 438
11.2. Historical Perspective 438
11.3. Major Rivers and Tributaries 439
11.4. Biogeographic Setting 442
11.5. Physiography, Climate and Land Use 448
11.6. Hydrology and Biogeochemistry 456
11.7. Riparian and Aquatic Biodiversity 467
11.8. Management and Conservation 472
11.9. Conclusion and Perspective 476
Acknowledgements 476
Reference 477
Further reading 482
Relevant websites 482
Chapter 12 The Italian Rivers 484
12.1. Introduction 484
12.2. Biogeographic Setting 486
12.3. Physiography, Climate, and Land Use 490
12.4. Geomorphology, Hydrology, and Biochemistry 494
12.5. Aquatic and Riparian Biodiversity 501
12.6. Management and Conservation 507
12.7. Conclusion and Perspective 509
Acknowledgements 510
References 510
Further reading 512
Chapter 13 Western Steppic Rivers 514
13.1. Introduction 514
13.2. Biogeographic Setting 518
13.3. Physiography, Climate, and Land Use 518
13.4. Geomorphology, Hydrology, and Biochemistry 522
13.5. Aquatic and Riparian Biodiversity 531
13.6. Management and Conservation 535
13.7. Conclusions and Perspectives 538
Acknowledgements 539
References 539
Further reading 540
Relevant websites 540
Chapter 14 Rivers of the Central European Highlands and Plains 542
14.1. Introduction 543
14.2. Weser 544
14.3. Elbe 550
14.4. Oder 559
14.5. Em 565
14.6. Skjern 569
14.7. Spree 574
14.8. Drawa 582
14.9. Synopsis 587
References 588
Relevant websites 593
Chapter 15 Rivers of the Boreal Uplands 594
15.1. Introduction 595
15.2. Physiography, Land Use and Hydrology 595
15.3. Aquatic and Riparian Biodiversity 598
15.4. Glomma river 598
15.5. Numedalslagen river 602
15.6. Mandalselva river 605
15.7. Suldalslagen river 608
15.8. Lærdalselva river 611
15.9. Jostedøla river 612
15.10. Stryneelva river 615
15.11. Orkla river 616
15.12. Namsen river 618
15.13. Vefsna river 619
15.14. Conclusions and Perspectives 621
References 621
Relevant websites 623
Chapter 16 Baltic and Eastern Continental Rivers 624
16.1. Introduction 625
16.2. Vistula River 625
16.3. Biodiversity 631
16.4. Nemunas River 638
16.5. Western Dvina River 642
16.6. Narva River 645
Acknowledgements 652
References 652
Further reading 658
Relevant websites 659
Chapter 17 Rivers of Turkey 660
17.1. Introduction 660
17.2. Historical Perspective 660
17.3. Geology of Turkey 661
17.4. General Characterization of Turkish Rivers 661
17.5. Climate 668
17.6. Land Use Patterns 670
17.7. Geomorphology of River Basins 671
17.8. Hydrology and Temperature 673
17.9. Water Quality 677
17.10. Biodiversity 680
17.11. Management and Conservation 684
Acknowledgements 686
References 686
Relevant websites 689
Chapter 18 Ural River Basin 690
18.1. Introduction 690
18.2. Physiography, Climate, and Land Use 690
18.3. Geomorphology, Hydrology, and Biogeochemistry 697
18.4. Biodiversity 698
18.5. Management and Conservation 698
18.6. Sakmara River 699
18.7. Ilek River 700
18.8. Conclusion 700
References 700
References 700
Relevant websites 701
Chapter 19 European Rivers: A Personal Perspectives 702
19.1. First Impressions 702
19.2. A Closer Look: Quantitative Patterns Among River Basins 703
19.3. The State of the Continent 709
19.4. Policy – What we Should do 712
19.5. Science – What we Need to Know 714
Acknowledgements 714
References 715
Index 716