See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/222895244

Morphologic changes in the Paraná River channel (Argentina) in the

light of the climate variability during the 20th century

Article  in  Geomorphology · September 2005

DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2005.02.008

CITATIONS READS

45 50

3 authors, including:

M. L. Amsler Carlos Guillermo Ramonell

Universidad Nacional del Litoral Universidad Nacional del Litoral
79 PUBLICATIONS   960 CITATIONS    21 PUBLICATIONS   264 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

On the Rozovskii method to isolate secondary circulation from a skewed flow View project

Fluctuaciones hidrológicas/hidráulicas de corto y largo plazo en el río Paraná: Efectos sobre el ensamble de invertebrados
bentónicos de su cauce principal. View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Carlos Guillermo Ramonell on 27 July 2018.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Geomorphology 70 (2005) 257 – 278
www.elsevier.com/locate/geomorph

Morphologic changes in the Paraná River channel

(Argentina) in the light of the climate
variability during the 20th century
Mario L. Amslera,T, Carlos G. Ramonella, Horacio A. Toniolob,1
a
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientı́ficas y Técnicas, Facultad de Ingenierı́a y Ciencias Hı́dricas (FICH),
Universidad Nacional del Litoral, CC 217, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
b
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, PO Box 75590047, Fairbanks, AK, United States
Accepted 24 February 2005
Available online 22 April 2005

Abstract

Recent studies regarding the climate variability in South America during the 20th century, revealed the existence of
climate cycles that influenced the hydrologic conditions in the Paraná River basin, one of the largest in the continent.
How that variability affected the channel morphology of this river in its middle reach is quantitatively analyzed in this
paper. The link between climate, hydrology and channel morphology is obtained through the computation of effective
discharge. This discharge implicitly synthesizes the point hydrologic and bed sediment transport changes in an alluvial
stream during a relatively long period. The results were obtained studying, with increasing detail, two channel reaches 373
km and 25 km long, respectively. The analysis involved the processing of more than 180 bathymetric charts, satellite
images and hydraulic and sedimentologic data recorded in the Paraná River since the very beginning of the 20th century.
A rather detailed description of the treatment made with this information is given in the paper. It is shown that three
periods of different effective discharges fairly well correlated with reported climatic fluctuations occurred during the last
100 years, i.e. two periods of high discharges (at the century beginning and from 1970 till present) and another of
relatively low discharges between 1930 and 1970. Morphologic parameters of the main channel, such as mean width,
thalweg sinuosity, braided index and aspect ratio, increased or decreased in correspondence with those variations. In
transitional channels (between meandering and braided) like the Paraná River, careful study of the thalweg behavior is
a key issue, if a proper approach to the dynamic of morphologic processes operating on the whole channel is
intended. Finally, on the basis of theoretical (extreme hypotheses approach) and empirical results, it is suggested that
the Paraná River main channel would not be adjusted to the present high values of effective discharge. Thus, larger

T Corresponding author. Fax: +54 342 4575224.

E-mail addresses: mamsler@fich1.unl.edu.ar (M.L. Amsler), ramonell@fich1.unl.edu.ar (C.G. Ramonell), ffhat@uaf.edu (H.A. Toniolo).
1
Fax: +1 907 4746087.

0169-555X/$ - see front matter D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2005.02.008
258 M.L. Amsler et al. / Geomorphology 70 (2005) 257–278
erosion of banks (channel widening) and increases in the other cited morphologic characteristics will occur if those values
persist.
D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Climate variability; Effective discharge; Channel morphology; 20th century; Minimum stream power theory; Paraná River
1. Introduction
The influence of the climate variations on river
morphology is well known, at least for small and
medium-sized fluvial basins. Relatively modest
fluctuations in some climate features (e.g., 1–2
8C of the annual mean temperature and lower than
10–20% of the annual mean precipitation) during
time scales of a few decades can, through
alteration of the flood regime, produce significant
changes to the fluvial system (Arnell, 1996;
Knighton, 1998).
Regarding South America, the climate variability
occurred during the last century and its incidence
over the hydrologic regimes of some of its large
rivers has being studied since several years ago
(Garcı́a and Vargas, 1998; Giacosa et al., 2000;
Fernández and Larrañaga, 2002; Krepper and
Garcı́a, 2004). Based on the reported results of
some of these investigations, this paper shows how
those climatic variations were responsible for the
morphologic changes observed in the main channel
of the Paraná River, the sixth largest river in the
world (Schumm and Winkley, 1994) and the third
in South America. It has a mean discharge of about
20,000 m3/s in its middle reach and a basin of
2.3
106 km2 that cover the surface of five
countries (Fig. 1). To the authors’ knowledge this
subject has not been extensively explored in large
rivers.
The general objective of linking the influence of
the climatic and (consequent) hydrologic variations
with the river morphology, was met computing the
values for channel forming discharge for several
periods of the 20th century. Thus, the idea followed
here is that the channel geometry at a given period
of time is largely molded by a single discharge.
Though this is a rather old idea (introduced by
Schaffernak in 1922 according to Garde and Ranga
Raju, 1977), many controversial points persist con-
cerning the definition of that single discharge
(Knighton, 1998). Notwithstanding, most river engi-
neers and scientists agree that the concept has merit,
sustained by an abundant bibliography (Biedenharn
et al., 1999).
In this paper, the channel forming flow was
evaluated through the effective discharge, i.e., the
discharge which performs most work, where work is
defined in terms of sediment transport (Wolman and
Miller, 1960). This is the flow that cumulatively
transports the most sediment. Regarding the trans-
ported sediment, Biedenharn et al. (1999) point out that
in most alluvial streams the major features of channel
morphology are principally formed in sediments
derived from the bed material load. This statement
was properly attended in the effective discharge
computations in a stream like the Paraná River, a large
sand bed river.
Much evidence associates this discharge with the
bbankfull dischargeQ, but a number of references
report about rivers with effective streamflows lower
than the bankfull one (Richards, 1982; Knighton,
1998). This controversial point has not been com-
pletely solved yet. The Paraná River is shown to
conform with the second group of streams.
The effective discharge integrates the features of
the hydrologic and sedimentologic regimes of a
given stream which will be reflected in its channel
morphologic characteristics. Thus, climatic varia-
tions of certain magnitude will influence the basin
hydrology of a fluvial system in such a way that the
effective discharges of some rivers will change and
perturb channel geometries. The existence of this
linkage in the Paraná River is the thrust of this
paper.
The writers reached this goal by comparing the
nature of the climatic fluctuations that occurred in
South America during several periods of the last
100 years, with the changes in the effective
discharges and several geometric parameters of the
 M.L. Amsler et al. / Geomorphology 70 (2005) 257–278 259

Fig. 1. The Paraná River basin.

Paraná River channel computed for the same
periods. The main purpose was to get a first answer,
i.e., an outline as clear as possible, to the following
question: what did occur during the 20th century in
connection with the previous topics? Hence, the
study do not deepen in the equilibrium–disequili-
brium analysis of the Paraná River channel at each
period, a key issue in the computation of the
effective discharge, nor in the complex responses
and times required for them when the channel
forming discharge changes. In spite of these con-
straints, some speculations concerning these topics
are advanced in the paper, in the light of the results
obtained by applying the bextremal hypothesesQ
approach to the particular conditions prevailing in
the Paraná River.
260 M.L. Amsler et al. / Geomorphology 70 (2005) 257–278
2. Climate variability in the Paraná River basin
during the past century
2.1. General features
According to the climatic classification of
Kfeppen, three main types of climates influence most
of the Paraná River basin north to south: the tropical
savanna between ~138S and ~228S; a temperate rainy
climate with a dry winter between ~158S and ~288S,
and a temperate, rainy climate moist all seasons,
characterizing essentially the south-east region of the
basin (Garcı́a, 1994).
Regarding precipitation, the principal climatic
component in this paper, its pattern is complex in
the Paraná River basin because of its extensive surface
topographic variability and the geographic position.
Notwithstanding, the local perturbations can be
accommodated within the previous regional climatic
context.
In this regard, the annual precipitation (1961–1990
series) over the basin exceeds 1200 mm, with
maximums of more than 2250 mm in the Iguazú River
central basin (Fig. 1). The absolute minimums of about
500 mm occur on the upper basins of the Pilcomayo
and Bermejo Rivers.
More than 45% of the annual precipitation
concentrates during the summer period (December,
January, February) with an average of 480 mm and
maximum mean precipitations between 700 and 800
mm on the north and northeast of the basin. Winter
(June, July, August) is the dry season with an
average precipitation of 130 mm and minimums of
60 mm on the north and Andean regions of the basin
(Paoli et al., 2000).
This general pattern and the distribution of
precipitation govern the Paraná River regime
described below, in such a way that its config-
uration is homogeneous from the upper reaches till
the mouth with the only logical downstream differ-
ences in the mean values and time displacements of
maximums and minimums (Garcı́a and Vargas,
1996).
2.2. Climate variability
Garcı́a and Vargas (1998) and Garcı́a et al.
(2002) studied how the general climatic picture
described above varied along the past century.
Analyzing time series of streamflows and precip-
itations, they showed that precipitations had the
same behavior in the upper and lower basin.
According to their results the streamflow and
precipitations series at Posadas and Paraná, respec-
tively, have the same tendency changes around
1970–1971. The variations occurred in the Paraná
River behavior at Posadas, are shown in Fig. 2. It
is seen that the mean discharge of the 1971–1993
period has an approximate value of 14,500 m3/s,
i.e., 20% higher than the corresponding discharge
of the 1931–1992 period. Regarding these differ-
ences, Garcı́a et al. (2002) show by means of a
single Fourier harmonic analysis, that the stream-
flows variation coefficient of the 1971/1994 period
exceeded more than 30% that of 1931/1970, while
those of precipitations were 10% to 23% larger
(14% in average). The results of this analysis, are
shown in Fig. 3. It is clearly seen the change
beginning in 1970 and the bdryQ period of nearly
40 years prevailing on the basin in the midst of the
20th century. Considering these facts, Garcı́a et al.
(2002) hypothesize that the precipitation changes
began in 1970–1971 and the incidence on stream-
flows, are an indication that the climatic system of
the basin has changed. They also present evidence
that a certain increment of discharge has an
anthropogenic component, consequence of a large
scale change in agricultural practices on the Brazil-
ian area of the basin, began in 1968. They
Fig. 2. Monthly mean flows of the Paraná River at Posadas (see Fig.
1), for the defined periods (reproduced from Garcı́a and Vargas,
1998).
 M.L. Amsler et al. / Geomorphology 70 (2005) 257–278
Fig. 3. Hydrogram, the first three harmonics and the series tendency
curve of annual mean flows at Posadas (see Fig. 1), Upper Paraná
River (reproduced from Garcı́a et al., 2002).
conclude that the Paraná River flows could dimin-
ish but, on average, would not reach the historical
values previous to the change in cultural activities
unless climatic fluctuation of a large magnitude
occurred.
3. Main features of the Paraná River channel in its
middle reach
According to the climatic picture described above,
the high water stage of the Paraná River occurs in
summer, usually during February and March. For such
high river levels, Giacosa et al. (2000) reported mean
monthly flows of 22,500 m3/s at Corrientes section,
by considering the 1961–1999 discharge series. For
low water stages, a mean value of nearly 15,000 m3/s
was recorded that occurred during August and
September. The extreme discharges ratio is nearly 8,
a rather low value as in other large rivers of the world
(maximum discharge: 60,000 m3/s; minimum dis-
charge: 8000 m3/s).
Along its middle reach the river flows on a wide
and complex floodplain, 13 to 40 km in width,
inundated completely during the extraordinary floods.
The river valley is filled with at least 30 m of fluvial
sands deposited over Tertiary claystones and weak
sandstones. In some areas, e.g. La Paz and Diamante
(km 757 and 530, respectively; Fig. 4), the left bank
of the main stream is composed by Tertiary sediments.
Based on indirect evidences gathered at some deep
points of the river along that reach (e.g., absence of
261
sand dunes in the echograms), it is believed that
Tertiary sediments are also forming the bed in such
local sites.
The role of neotectonism influencing certain
features of the river, such as changes in valley widths
and longitudinal water surface slopes has been
claimed in some previous works (e.g., Iriondo,
1988). Nevertheless, this is a topic where more
studies are needed, because other explanations are
feasible and can account for the same features.
From a morphological point of view, the Paraná
main channel is a succession of enlargements with
narrower, shorter and deeper sectors between them
(Fig. 4). Average river widths (without island widths)
are 2000–3000 m (mean depths of 5–8 m) at
enlargements, and 600–1200 m (mean depths of 15–
25 m) at constrictions.
Channel sand bars and islands concentrate at
enlargements and resemble a braided channel pattern,
but a conspicuous difference with a typical braided
river exists, because the Paraná River has a well-
defined sinuous thalweg that concentrates up to 60%
of the river discharge at a given section (Toniolo,
1999). Because of this feature, the values for channel
sinuosity (less than 1.3) and the bed material load/
total load ratio (c17%), the Paraná was classified
(Ramonell et al., 2002) as a bbed load channelQ with
transitional planform characteristics, i.e., braided with
sinuous (or meandering) thalweg pattern (pattern-type
4 of Schumm, 1985).
The annual mean total sediment transport, com-
puted with data of the last ten years, amounts 145.106
t/year from which 83% is washload (silts and clays)
and the rest, bed material load (Amsler and Drago, in
press). Uniform medium and fine sands are predom-
inant in the channel bed along the whole middle reach.
Drago and Amsler (1998) showed that the average
sizes of these sands are correlated with the mean
slopes of the water surface. These slopes ranges
between 7.105 and 3.105 in the middle reach.
4. Methodological aspects
4.1. General criteria
The methodological criteria follow those sug-
gested by Winkley and Schumm (1994) and Thorne
262 M.L. Amsler et al. / Geomorphology 70 (2005) 257–278

Fig. 4. Middle and lower reaches of the Paraná River (km 1240-mouth) and air view of the typical planform pattern.

and Baghirathan (1994), for geomorphic studies in
alluvial streams. The problem was approached from
a general to a particular point of view beginning
with an inspection of the morphologic behavior
observed at a long reach of the Paraná River
channel between km 853 and 480 of the sailing
route (Fig. 4). The results obtained from this
examination were further extended by means of a
more detailed analysis at a reach 25 km long
between Villa Urquiza and Bajada Grande (Fig. 5).
As was already stated, the link between the changes
of river morphology and the reported climate
variations during the last century was the effective
discharge whose computation is described next.
4.2. Computation of effective discharge
This discharge in the Paraná River was obtained
by means of the Schaffernak procedure (Garde and
Ranga Raju, 1977). This method has been used
 M.L. Amsler et al. / Geomorphology 70 (2005) 257–278 263

per the suggestion of Biedenharn et al. (1999) for the

calculation of effective discharge. The nine selected
periods and the corresponding Q m values are shown in
Table 1. These values were obtained by means of
rating curves fit at the Aguas Corrientes section (Fig.
5) and with the 93 years record of daily levels at the
Paraná Port gauge (H pp). These records reveal three
stages of the hydrologic behavior of the Paraná River
in Table 1:

1) The first two periods occur when the mean

discharge was larger than 13,000 m3/s with a
slight increase during 1921–1931.
Fig. 5. The Villa Urquiza–Bajada Grande reach. 2) A period of 38 years between 1932 and 1969 has
minimum and remarkable stable mean values
fluctuating around 12,500 m3/s.
without major changes since its introduction in 3) In the last 30 years of the century, an increase of
1922. Essentially, it defines the effective discharge the mean values occur from 14,700 m3/s in the
as the modal value of the product of streamflow 1970–1980 period to more than 16,000 m3/s
frequency and sediment transport. The application recorded in the two final series.
was made at the following reaches of the Paraná
River: Based on these results, the effective discharge
( Q ef) was computed first for the period of mean
– Between Villa Urquiza (km 619) and Paraná discharge stability between 1932 and 1969 with the
(km 601). Though the total river discharge does detailed data available in the Villa Urquiza–Bajada
not flow through this reach (nearly 15% is Grande reach (DHGyA, 1983).
derived along a system of important secondary The 1932–1969 series of daily discharges was
channels formed by the Colastiné and Leyes divided first into 3000 m3/s constant intervals
rivers; Fig. 4), the quantity and quality of starting from 8000 m3/s. This class interval was
cartographic, hydraulic and sedimentologic data selected after a trial and error test to obtain a
obtained by Federal Agencies and scientific relatively continuous flow frequency distribution and
Institutes during nearly 100 years at this sector a smooth sediment load histogram with a well-
of the main channel, was a decisive factor to
select it.
– In front of Corrientes City (km 1208) at the very
Table 1
beginning of the middle reach (Fig. 4). Through Mean water level and mean discharges of the Paraná River during
this section flows the total discharge of the the 20th Century, Villa Urquiza—Paraná City reach
Paraná River which maintains these values with- Period Mean water Mean discharge
out major change till its mouth (Giacosa et al., levela (m) (m3/s)
2000). 01-01-1904 to 12-31-1920 2.57 13,075
01-01-1921 to 12-31-1931 2.83 13,879
4.2.1. The effective discharges between Villa Urquiza 01-01-1932 to 12-31-1941 2.38 12,505
and Paraná 01-01-1942 to 12-31-1948 2.21 12,048
01-01-1949 to 12-31-1959 2.42 12,625
To attain a first general picture about the stream- 01-01-1960 to 12-31-1969 2.41 12,603
flows behavior along the 20th century, the mean 01-01-1970 to 12-31-1980 2.95 14,713
discharges, Q m, were computed at different periods 01-01-1981 to 12-31-1990 3.76 16,435
during 93 years beginning in January of 1904. The 01-01-1991 to 12-31-1995 3.62 16,019
a
time periods (excepting the last one), were selected At Paraná Port gauge.
264 M.L. Amsler et al. / Geomorphology 70 (2005) 257–278

defined peak (Biedenharn et al., 1999). The follow- Table 2

ing 6 intervals resulted: Mean and effective discharges of the Paraná River during the 20th
Century, Villa Urquiza—Paraná City reach
Interval Q [m3/s] Period Mean Effective Water level Water level of
1 b 8000 discharge discharge of mean effective
2 8000–11,000 (m3/s) (m3/s) dischargea (m) dischargea (m)
3 11,001–14,000 01-01-1904 to 13,477 13,600 2.70 2.74
4 14,001–17,000 12-31-1931
5 17,001–20,000 01-01-1932 to 12,445 12,560 2.35 2.40
6 N20,000 12-31-1969
01-01-1970 to 14,713 15,146 2.95 3.08
The discharge frequencies at each interval were 12-31-1980
computed as the ratio between the number of 01-01-1981 to 16,435 16,460 3.76 3.77
12-31-1990
discharge data in the interval and the whole number
01-01-1991 to 16,019 16,311 3.62 3.72
of data. To obtain the total bed sediment transport, 12-31-1995
G s, the Engelund–Hansen formula (Vanoni, 1975)
Bankfull discharge (01-01-1981 to 12-31-1995): 17,140 m3 /s
was used, because it predicts reliable rats of sedi- (water level at Paraná Port gauge: 4.00 m).
ment transport in the Paraná River as was shown by a
At Paraná Port gauge.
Amsler and Prendes (2000) and Alarcón et al.
(2003). The G s values were computed for the was again applied. The results are presented in Table
discharges representing each interval estimated by 2. The corresponding water levels in the Paraná Port
the arithmetic mean of the interval discharges. gage together with the mean discharges, are also
Finally, the product of the interval frequencies times included. The values of the bbankfull dischargeQ that
the corresponding rats of sediment transport, were occurs at an approximate water level of 4 m at that
made. The results of this last computation can be gage is another reference parameter given in the
seen in Fig. 6 that clearly shows an effective table.
discharge value of 12,560 m3/s for the period. This
discharge occurs for a 2.40 m water level in the 4.2.2. The effective discharges in front of Corrientes
Paraná Port gage and is similar to the mean City
discharge of that period (see Table 1). Thus, the Water level series, recorded in front of Corrientes
effective discharges for the immediately previous and City from 1904 to the present together with more than
subsequent periods to the analyzed one, were 100 streamflow measurements performed by several
computed with the rating curves available at the Argentina Agencies since 1971 until 1997 at that
reach. For the more recent periods (1981–1990 and section, were available to make this computation. The
1991–1995), the complete Schaffernak procedure sedimentologic data were obtained from Drago and
Amsler (1998).
With this set of data, it was possible to fit a rating
curve and to compute hydraulic and sedimentologic
variables such as: mean stream velocities, u; average
depth, h, and width, B; median distribution of the
sizes of bed sediment, d 50, and slopes, S. The whole
water level series was divided into the following time
periods:

1 1904–1920
2 1921–1931
3 1932–1969
Fig. 6. Results of the dominant discharge computation for the 1932– 4 1970–1980
1968 period at the Villa Urquiza–Bajada Grande reach. 5 1981–1990
 M.L. Amsler et al. / Geomorphology 70 (2005) 257–278 265

These periods were separated in 3000 m3/s class Table 4

intervals based on the same criteria described Mean and effective discharges of the Paraná River at Corrientes
section (km 1208)
earlier. The Schaffernak method was then applied
Period Mean Effective Water level of
with the respective hydraulic and sedimentologic
discharge discharge effective
variables. The 1932–1969 period division is pre- (m3/s) (m3/s) dischargea (m)
sented next:
01-01-1904 to 12-31-1920 16,185 18,489 3.88
01-01-1921 to 12-31-1931 18,106 21,550 4.61
3
Interval Q [m /s] 01-01-1932 to 12-31-1969 15,464 15,424 3.10
1 b 5000 01-01-1970 to 12-31-1980 16,860 18,315 3.84
2 5001–8000 01-01-1981 to 12-31-1990 21,490 24,467 5.43
3 8001–11,000
Bankfull discharge (01-01-1981 to 12-31-1990): 27,330 m3 /s
4 11,001–14,000
(water level at Corrientes Port gauge: ca. 5.90 m).
5 14,001–17,000 a
At Corrientes Port gauge.
6 17,001–20,000
7 20,001–23,000
8 23,001–26,000
9 26,001–29,000
these records) supplemented with measurements
10 29,001–32,000 reported in FICH (1993, 1997a,b). The morpho-
11 N 32,001 logic parameters were obtained considering the
succession of channel enlargements and constric-
The effective discharge computation sequence for tions already described (Fig. 4), including the
this case is showed in Table 3. A similar sequence was transitional areas between them, i.e., confluences
applied for the other periods. The results can be seen and expansions.
in Table 4. The enlargements and constrictions limits were
first marked out on the charts to standardize the
4.3. Determination of the variables for channel information analysis in each period. Based on the
geometry experience acquired with the map studies of the
Paraná River, a bconstrictionQ was defined as a
4.3.1. The reach between Esquina and Pto. Gaboto narrow channel area compared with the upstream
The Paraná River channel geometry at this and downstream widths and with nearly parallel
reach was studied by means of bathymetric banks (or 0 m level isobates) along all its length.
charts recorded in 1906, 1932–1934, 1969– The benlargementQ was set down with a similar
1972 and 1986–1989, and satellite images of simple criteria. Moreover, viewing the channel
1994 (see Appendix A for a brief description of features recorded on the bathymetric charts it was

Table 3
Sequence of the effective discharge computation in front of Corrientes City (km 1208) of Paraná River, 1932 to 1969 period (13,380 days)
Q̄ (m3/s) Wla (m) A (m2) h̄ I
105 ū s0 gs B Days Frequency Gs Freq.
G s n
(m) (m/s) (kg/m2) (kg/s m) (m) (kg/s)
4420 0.59 10,040 7.46 1.81 0.44 0.135 0.016 1346 74 0.005 21.23 0.112 0.037
7137 5.3 11,328 8.26 2.47 0.63 0.204 0.060 1371 1019 0.073 82.26 6.038 0.032
9513 1.36 12,388 8.92 2.69 0.77 0.240 0.113 1389 2397 0.173 157.45 27.191 0.029
12,500 2.29 13,684 9.71 2.69 0.91 0.261 0.182 1409 2922 0.211 256.91 54.079 0.026
15,424 3.10 14,938 10.46 2.57 1.03 0.268 0.243 1428 2587 0.186 346.61 64.609 0.023
18,444 3.87 16,233 11.23 2.42 1.14 0.272 0.300 1446 1843 0.133 434.29 57.666 0.022
21,438 4.59 17,528 11.99 2.34 1.22 0.280 0.364 1462 1370 0.099 531.81 52.490 0.021
24,374 5.24 18,813 12.73 2.34 1.30 0.298 0.448 1477 948 0.068 661.30 45.167 0.020
27,327 5.87 20,127 13.49 2.46 1.36 0.331 0.576 1492 381 0.027 859.53 23.594 0.021
30,442 6.45 20,999 14.07 3.25 1.55 0.457 1.220 1492 183 0.013 1821.03 24.008 0.021
34,355 7.05 21,886 14.66 4.05 1.69 0.594 2.151 1492 156 0.011 3210.52 36.086 0.023
a
Wl: water level (at Corrientes Port gauge).
266 M.L. Amsler et al. / Geomorphology 70 (2005) 257–278
possible to trace the bounds of the bexpansionQ, the
transitional areas between constrictions and enlarge-
ments. It was defined as the sector downstream of a
constriction where banks (or 0 m level isobates)
diverge regularly along the current direction until
that condition changes, or until the site where a
sand bar (morphologically developed at least until
the local 0 m level isobate) appears. It is well
known that the stream diverges in these channel
areas and, as in the Paraná River case, flows
downstream along the enlargement essentially con-
centrated in two or more deep strips (regarding the
bars developed until the 0 m isobate) or just in a
single one if the bars develop laterally close to the
channel banks.
Respecting the flow confluence areas, it was not
possible to describe them clearly with a single
planform feature in all the available charts. Thus,
the enlargements were defined simply as the river
sector between a given expansion and the constric-
tion downstream. This simplified criteria proved to
be suitable for performing a consistent and handy
analysis of the charts within the context of the study
Fig. 7. Base line and cross-sections considered in the Villa Urquiza–Bajada Grande reach analysis.
objectives. Naturally it must not be conceived as
summarizing all the possible processes for flow
diversion and sand bar formation that take place at
river widenings.
The three channel morphologic units were also
identified on the 1994 satellite images. The limits
between successive expansions/enlargements were
here considered where the divergence of the regular
banks disappeared. With these criteria it was
possible to resolve the separation in nearly all the
cases.
The thalweg track was also traced on the bathy-
metric charts by means of a continuous and smooth
line following the deeper channel areas along the
current direction between both ends of a given map. It
was typical to find this line between parallel isobates
corresponding to a certain depth (e.g. 10 m or more) at
constrictions while those at expansions acquired a bYQ
plan pattern with the barmsQ directed towards the
downstream enlargement. One of these arms was
shorter than the other for a given depth. All the
isobates related with the longer barmQ generally
remained well defined downstream through only one
 M.L. Amsler et al. / Geomorphology 70 (2005) 257–278 267

of the two canals normally existing at the enlarge-
ment. This one was linked with the thalweg track. The
shorter shallower arms (depths smaller than the 2–3 m
isobates in nearly all the cases), were also traced.
These second-order canals are typical morphologic
elements of the channel expansions and enlargements
but they do not always exist in each of those areas
(only two exceptions were found along the studied
reach).
Cross-sections equally spaced were traced on all
the charts (including the 1994 images) at a rate of
three sections at constrictions and expansions, and 6
(up to 12) at enlargements depending on the
lengths.
Finally, on the base of the previous treatment the
following parameters were measured:
Right length, L r , of all sectors.
Thalweg track, L t , and second-order canals, L i,
lengths at each sector.
Partial widths (referred to the 0 m level in the local
gauges), B 0 partial, of the main channel, sand bars
(with/without islands) and secondary channels at
each cross section.
Partial top widths of the main channel, islands and
secondary channels, B m partial, at each cross section.
Cross-section average depth, h 0, referred to the 0 m
level in the local gauges.

Fig. 8. Morphological changes at the Villa Urquiza–Bajada Grande reach during the 20th century (banks and bars/islands contours drawn at the
0 m level isobate).
268 M.L. Amsler et al. / Geomorphology 70 (2005) 257–278

Cross-section maximum depth, h máx, referred to To digitize the maps, a base line was traced
the 0 m level in the local gauges. according to the reach morphology. This line was
placed along the left bank because of its larger stability
With these parameters, it was possible to compute: with its origin upstream of Villa Urquiza and its
downstream end near Bajada Grande. Perpendicular to
Channel width referred to the 0 m level in the local the base line 43 cross-sections were traced, 500 m
gauges, B 0. equally spaced (the exception was section 20 coinci-
Channel top width, B m. dent with the base line break point, Fig. 7).
Thalweg sinuosity, P t = L t/L r.
BraidedP index (Mosley, 1981), PE, expressed here
as PE = L i/L t. (*)
Total sinuosity
P P (Robertson-Rintoul and Richards,
1993), P = L i/L r. (*) P
(*) In the computation of PE, and P, L t was
included in the sum of the L i value.

Toniolo et al. (1999) showed that it is possible to

define the thalweg geometric dimensions, B t and h t,
by means of the Eqs. (1)–(4) (see Results). The B t and
h t values were computed with these equations in the
first four considered periods at each cross-section
where the channel width, B 0, and the mean depth, h 0,
values were available.
The procedure to obtain B t and h t for the
morphologic condition of 1994, was based in
relationships between B m vs. B t, and B 0 vs. B m
fitted with available flow measurements and
depths data recorded along the sailing line
reported by FICH (1993, 1997a,b). Measuring
B m at each cross-section on the 1994 chart, the
corresponding B t and B 0 were determined. The
h t values were assumed to be similar to the
sailing line depths. With this parameters and
Eqs. (1)–(4), the h 0 values at each morphologic unit
(constrictions, etc.) on the 1994 chart, were also
computed.

4.3.2. The reach between Villa Urquiza and Bajada

Grande
It has a typical planform pattern: two enlargements
with a constriction between them (Fig. 5).
The detailed analysis of its geometry was per-
formed by means of bathymetric charts performed in
the following years, each representing nine morpho-
logic scenarios along the last century: 1905, 1920/21,
Fig. 9. Morphological changes of three selected cross-sections (see
1934/35, 1949/50, 1960/61, 1970/72, 1988/89, 1996/ Fig. 5) at the Villa Urquiza–Bajada Grande reach (years are
97, 2000. See Appendix A for more details about representative of periods with different dominant discharges during
these charts. the 20th century).
 M.L. Amsler et al. / Geomorphology 70 (2005) 257–278 269

Table 5
Braiding and thalweg sinuosity parameters of measured reaches of the Paraná River between Esquina (km 853) and Pto. Gaboto (km 480)
P
Year Measured channel Braiding parameter (PE) Total sinuosity ( P) Thalweg sinuosity ( P t)
length (km) Maximum Mean Minimum Maximum Mean Minimum Maximum Mean Minimum
1905/1906 99.30 2.64 2.17 1.17 3.17 2.56 1.81 1.55 1.21 1.02
1932/1934 59.05 2.80 2.32 1.50 3.66 3.23 2.51 2.44 1.42 1.02
1969/1972 70.35 2.89 1.98 1.00 3.77 2.39 1.10 1.37 1.20 1.07
1986/1989 106.95 2.88 2.04 1.67 3.15 2.53 2.14 1.68 1.25 1.04

Figs. 8 and 9 show plain views of the reach along
the 20th century and the changes that occurred in
some of its cross-sections, respectively.
5. Results
5.1. The effective discharge in the middle reach of the
Paraná River
Tables 2 and 4 show that effective discharge in the
Paraná River did not maintain a constant value along the
last 100 years. The values were on the order of the mean
discharge but always lower than the bankfull discharge
though the difference with this one became smaller
during the last period, i.e., between 1981 and 1995.
The variations in effective discharge are a con-
sequence of the climatic phenomena that occurred
over the whole fluvial system and led the morphologic
changes observed in the Paraná River channel during
the 20th century. The features and scope of this
linkage are discussed below.
5.2. Changes in channel morphology
5.2.1. Esquina–Pto. Gaboto reach P
The mean braided parameters (PE and P) and
thalweg sinuosities, measured at enlargements in the
first four periods considered in this reach, are
presented in Table 5. In Table 6, the mean thalweg
sinuosities at channel constrictions, expansions and
enlargements for the same periods, and the total
sinuosity computed with weighting coefficients that
account for the influence of the lengths of the
morphologic units at a given period, are included.
The last sinuosity values differ from those of Table 5
though the tendency is identical. The variations of the
thalweg sinuosity and braiding parameters, with the
effective discharge in the middle reach (Table 4), are
sketched in Figs. 10, 11 and 12.
5.2.2. Villa Urquiza–Bajada Grande reach
The values for thalweg sinuosity, the channel
average widths, depths (mean and maximum) and
volumes between Villa Urquiza and Bajada Grande

Table 6
Total and partiala thalweg sinuosities of measured reaches of the Paraná River between Esquina (km 853) and Pto. Gaboto (km 480)
Year Morphological Numbers of Measured channel Weighting Mean thalweg Thalweg
unit measured units length (km) coefficientb sinuosity sinuosity
1905/1906 Constriction 10 23.45 0.17 1.04 1.15
Expansion 9 18.80 0.13 1.14
Enlargement 10 99.30 0.70 1.18
1932/1934 Constriction 4 6.92 0.13 1.09 1.38
Expansion 3 6.70 0.13 1.17
Enlargement 6 59.05 0.74 1.47
1969/1972 Constriction 6 13.30 0.18 1.01 1.14
Expansion 4 6.95 0.11 1.02
Enlargement 8 70.35 0.71 1.20
1986/1989 Constriction 8 18.30 0.16 1.07 1.24
Expansion 8 14.55 0.14 1.20
Enlargement 8 72.65 0.70 1.29
a
Discriminated according to channel morphological units.
b
Weighting coefficients account for the length influence of each morphologic unit.
270 M.L. Amsler et al. / Geomorphology 70 (2005) 257–278

P
Fig. 10. Changes of the thalweg sinuosity ( P t) with the effective Fig. 12. Changes of the total sinuosity ( P) with the effective
discharge during the 20th century (Esquina–Pto. Gaboto reach). discharge during the 20th century (Esquina–Pto. Gaboto reach).

are given in Table 7 for the nine morphologic episodes computed with the following empirical expressions:
studied in the 20th century. The evolution of those Enlargements
geometric parameters is represented in Fig. 13a,b (see
also Fig. 9). Bt =h0 ¼ 1:1346ðB0 =h0 Þ0:8124 r2 ¼ 0:774 ð1Þ

5.3. Relationships between the thalweg and the Bt =ht ¼ 1:0599ðB0 =h0 Þ0:6799 r2 ¼ 0:799 ð2Þ
channel aspect ratios
Confluences, expansions, constrictions
As was stated previously, Ramonell et al. (2002) Bt =h0 ¼ 0:1381ðB0 =h0 Þ1:1629 r2 ¼ 0:865 ð3Þ
showed that the channel pattern of the Paraná River is
braided with a sinuous (or meandering) thalweg. By Bt =ht ¼ 0:0974ðB0 =h0 Þ1:0685 r2 ¼ 0:819 ð4Þ
studying the shifting modes of the thalweg, they
revealed how the flow concentrated in it governs the These equations were devised through a proce-
main geomorphic processes occurring in the whole dure based on 65 selected streamflow measurements
channel. Thus, the definition of the thalweg geometric performed at 16 cross-sections of the Paraná main
characteristics is essential to understand the adjust-
ment mechanisms of the river. Toniolo et al. (1999) Table 7
showed that its width, B t, and depth, h t, can be Geometric parameters of the Paraná main channel between Villa
Urquiza and Bajada Grande
Year Mean Mean Mean Channel Thalweg
width depth maximum volume sinuosity
(m) (m) depth (m) (Hm3)
1905 1,818 6.79 13.64 174.29 1.20
1920 1,718 6.45 13.36 153.87 1.09
1934 1,462 7.40 13.18 150.92 1.12
1949 1,120 9.52 16.82 127.44 1.12
1960 1,313 8.97 15.55 136.62 1.09
1972 1,407 7.59 15.09 141.22 1.12
1988 1,527 7.48 13.09 136.54 1.15
1997 1,520 8.15 15.55 – –
2000 1,536 7.99 14.73 157.15 1.18
The thalweg sinuosity, P t, values were computed between sections 6
and 40 (Fig. 7).
Fig. 11. Changes of the braiding index (PE) with the effective Depths and widths were computed between sections 18 and 39.
discharge during the 20th century (Esquina–Pto. Gaboto reach). Channel volumes were computed between sections 7 and 39.
 M.L. Amsler et al. / Geomorphology 70 (2005) 257–278 271

Fig. 13. (a) Changes of the channel volume (at the 0 m level isobate) during the 20th century at the Villa Urquiza–Bajada Grande reach. (b)
Changes of the mean width and mean maximum depth (at the 0 m level isobate) during the 20th century at the same reach.

channel during a period of 83 years of the 20th
century (Toniolo, 1999). All the streamflow data
corresponded to river stages near to those of the
effective discharges. Knowing the channel width, B 0,
and mean depth, h 0, the thalweg dimensions are
easily obtained at enlargement and node zones. In
Table 8, the mean values of B t, h t and the aspect
ratio, B t/h t, of the Paraná River thalweg are given for
each of the five periods studied at the Esquina–Pto.
Gaboto reach.
5.4. Extremal hypotheses results obtained with the
morphologic dimensions of the thalweg
Amsler and Ramonell (2002), studied the
degree of adjustment of the channel geometry
on the Paraná River (in the Villa Urquiza–Bajada
Grande reach) to the present effective discharge
condition by applying the minimum stream
power theory (Langbein and Leopold, 1964;
Yang, 1971, between others). They used the
classical equation:
cQef S
x¼ ð5Þ
B0
where: x, specific stream power, and c, water
specific weight (the rest of the symbols were
defined previously). Considering the influence of
the flow concentrated along the thalweg strip on
the morphologic processes in the Paraná River, it
is possible to gain insight of the channel
geometric changes by means of the minimum
272 M.L. Amsler et al. / Geomorphology 70 (2005) 257–278

Table 8
Synthesis of the thalweg dimensions in the Paraná River between Esquina (km 853) and Pto. Gaboto (km 480)
Constrictions Enlargements Expansions River channel mean values
B t (m) h t (m) B t/h t B t (m) h t (m) B t/h t B t (m) h t (m) B t/h t B t (m) h t (m) B t/h t
1905/1906
Mean 396 17.85 26 573 12.11 50 538 14.40 42 539 13.36 45
Deviation 163 3.20 14 164 2.54 15 164 3.58 18
Variation coeff. 0.41 0.18 0.57 0.29 0.21 0.30 0.32 0.23 0.49

1932/1934
Mean 431 14.88 31 496 12.14 46 455 13.64 33 482 12.70 42
Deviation 141 1.97 13 137 3.20 17 120 1.28 8
Variation coeff. 0.33 0.13 0.43 0.28 0.26 0.38 0.26 0.09 0.23

1969/1972
Mean 236 21.64 13 555 12.37 50 417 14.09 32 483 14.22 41
Deviation 90 4.68 7 130 2.97 18 130 2.43 13
Variation coeff. 0.38 0.22 0.55 0.23 0.24 0.35 0.33 0.22 0.47

1986/1989
Mean 370 15.24 29 462 12.04 42 473 13.04 39 449 12.69 40
Deviation 160 4.02 18 128 3.19 16 133 2.19 14
Variation coeff. 0.43 0.26 0.62 0.28 0.26 0.37 0.29 0.23 0.41

1994
Mean 254 16.41 20 564 10.04 65 320 11.44 32 491 11.07 55
Deviation 75 6.66 12 107 3.29 31 79 3.42 18
Variation coeff. 0.30 0.41 0.62 0.19 0.33 0.47 0.25 0.30 0.57

stream power hypothesis but applied in the
conditions prevailing in the thalweg sector. Eq.
(5) put as a function of the thalweg hydraulic
and geometric features stands:
cQt S
xt ¼
Bt Pt
where the subscript, btQ, refers to the Eq. (5) parameters
but of the thalweg flow being P t (= L t/L; L t, thalweg
length in the reach; L, straight reach length) its
sinuosity (Table 7). See that S t = S/P t. The discharge,
Q t, flowing along the strip of width, B t, and depth, h t,
may be obtained with the following equation (Toniolo,
1999):
Qt ¼ 6:105 Q2  1:4567Q þ 13; 557
account of the enlargements and node importance in
the total length of the studied reach. The results from
Eq. (6) are presented in Table 9.
Another outcome related with the extreme
hypotheses approach in the Paraná River, was
ð6Þ obtained from the Chang’s (1985) relationships
when applied to predict the thalweg width (B t)
and depth (h t). Taking into account the transitional
character of the Paraná River (braided with sinuous
thalweg), it would lie on the zones 2–3 of the
Chang’s diagram (Raudkivi, 1990). For rivers in the
zone 3, Raudkivi suggests the following equations
to compute B and h:
 pffiffiffi0:84
ð7Þ B ¼ 278Q0:93 S= d ð8Þ

r2 ¼ 0:908 h
h ¼  0:112  0:0379lnQ
Eq. (7) is valid at the channel enlargements and
 pffiffiffii
nodes. The B t values in Eq. (6) were computed
 0:0743ln S= d Q0:45 ðd in mmÞ ð9Þ
weighting the results obtained with Eqs. (1)–(4) taking
 M.L. Amsler et al. / Geomorphology 70 (2005) 257–278 273

Table 9 discharge computed for several periods of the last 100

Unit stream power in the thalweg area between Villa Urquiza and years. This discharge, an integral feature of the river
Bajada Grande
behavior (hydrologic, hydraulic and sedimentologic),
Period Q t (m3/s) B t (m) I
105 (m/m) P t x t (N m/s/m2)
controls the size and shape of channels that are
1905 4840 675 4.85 1.20 2.84 dynamically stable. Though the channel stability of
1920 4840 615 4.85 1.09 3.44
the Paraná River cannot be asserted at all, the
1934 4725 550 4.82 1.12 3.63
1949 4725 455 4.82 1.12 4.38 association between climate, effective discharge and
1960 4725 530 4.82 1.09 3.87 the fluctuations of channel geometry, the main
1972 5260 540 4.87 1.12 4.15 purpose of the paper, was successfully displayed.
1988 5835 585 4.99 1.15 4.25 The morphometric variations at both studied
1997 5760 570 4.98 – –
reaches (Esquina–Pto. Gaboto and Villa Urquiza–
2000 5760 570 4.98 1.18 4.18
Bajada Grande) show clearly two situations:

These expressions were applied for the five periods – One characterizing a period of nearly 40 years
considered in the Esquina–Diamante reach. The between 1930 and 1970.
following data were used: – The other defining the first 30 years of the century
S = 2
105 Q t : Eq. (7) together with the period between 1970 and the
= 5
105 Q ef : Table 4 present.
d = 0.300 mm (Drago and Amsler, 1998)
The results are shown next: According to the results presented in Tables 5–8
and Figs. 10–13, the main morphology of the channel
Period 1906 1933 1970 1988 1994 of the Paraná River during the midst of the 20th
Q ef [m3/s] 18,490 21,550 15,424 18,315 24,467
Q t [m3/s] 7,135 10,030 5,363 7,004 13,834 century can be characterized by:
B t0 [m] 539 482 483 449 491
B tc [m] 200–430 274–591 153–330 196–423 369–798 i. Minimum thalweg widths, sinuosities and
h t0 [m] 13.4 12.7 14.2 12.7 11.1 aspect ratios B t/h t.
h tc [m] 16.9–13.2 18.8–14.5 15.3–12.1 16.7–13.1 20.9–15.9 ii. Minimum braiding parameters indicating a
B t0 : thalweg width obtained in Table 8. tendency of the stream to concentrate in a
h t0 : thalweg depth obtained in Table 8.
single branch. This relates closely to the low P t
Chang’s method predicts geometric dimensions of values, nearly equal to those of a straight
the thalweg stream in the order of the observed ones. channel.
Eight of 10 measured B t and h t values fall within (or iii. Decreasing channel average widths, B 0, and
are close to) the computed range values which are volumes, with minimums around 1949. The
dependent from the selected slope, S (maximum mean and, specifically the maximum depths,
differences: 43% in h tc for 1994 and 32% in B tc increased. This increment is observed in many
for 1970). The predictions made with the gross large alluvial streams when the river main-
dimensions of the channel are not shown here, but it tains low water levels during long periods
is easily verifiable that they are not good. (minimum effective discharges, in this case),
because the flow bconcentratesQ in the thalweg
strip bself-dredgingQ its maximum depth areas.
6. Discussion The benefits for navigation are obvious. This
phenomenon was known for years on the
The climatic variations that occurred over South Paraná River (Repossini, 1912). With Eq. (7)
America during the 20th century affected the hydro- it is possible to verify that the flow concen-
logic conditions over the Paraná River basin, one of tration in the thalweg area really occurs for
the largest of this continent. Those variations were decreasing discharges and water levels smaller
related to the morphologic changes observed in the than bankfull (H pp c 3.50–4.00 m, Q c
main channel by analyzing the values of effective 17,100 m3/s; Table 2). According to this
274 M.L. Amsler et al. / Geomorphology 70 (2005) 257–278
equation, with a discharge around 6600 m3/s in
the Villa Urquiza–Bajada Grande reach, flow
would be completely concentrated in the thal-
weg strip. With this condition the available
rating curve predicts an approximate water level
of 0.10 m at the Paraná Port gage.
The morphologic picture of the river at the
beginning of the century and since 1970 until the
present shows an opposite tendency in all the
parameters that describe the channel geometry.
Regarding the channel volumes in the Villa
Urquiza–Bajada Grande reach, they varied between
174 Hm3 and 150 Hm3 from 1905 to 1934, but
attained a similar value of 157 Hm3 at present.
Larger mean widths and lower depths than during
the other periods were also recorded in that first 30
years of the 20th century. After 1970, the average
widths increased consistently but the maximum
depths did not have significantly different values with
respect to the previous bdryQ period (excepting in
1988 when abnormal very low water levels changed
this tendency).
The previous comments indicate that the morpho-
logic changes in the Paraná River channel compared
with the values of effective discharge at each period
(Tables 2 and 4), are closely related. These discharges,
in turn, reflect the humid and dry climatic cycles that
occurred all over the Paraná River basin during the
Fig. 14. Extreme and 1996 positions reached by the Paraná River right bank (at the 0 m level isobate) during the 20th century between km 604
and 584 (reproduced from Amsler and Ramonell, 2002).
last century. The morphologic variables (dependent)
had been changing according to the climatic fluctua-
tions that controlled the increments/decrements of the
main variable that governs the morphologic processes
occurring in the channel of alluvial streams similar to
the one studied.
The values of the geometric variables show that the
channel volume of the Paraná River varies essentially
through changes in its width instead of its bed, which
agree with the concept advanced by Schumm (1971)
regarding how the bbed loadQ channels adjust their
dimensions (see Table 7 and Fig. 13a,b).
Particularly during the last 30 years, effective
discharges larger than those at the beginning of the
century were recorded, but with morphologic param-
eters that do not have the values of that period. Thus,
it is suggested that the Paraná River would not be in
equilibrium with the present Q ef, i.e., it would be in an
eroding unbalanced state trying to adjust to the new
situation by increasing its width rather than deepening
its bed. The evidence already presented support this
statement. See also Fig. 14 reproduced from Amsler
and Ramonell (2002), where the extreme and 1996
positions reached by the Paraná River right bank in
front of Paraná City during the 20th century, are
shown.
Regarding these adjustments to a certain Q ef, the
situation at the beginning of the 20th century when
the channel had the maximum recorded dimensions
 M.L. Amsler et al. / Geomorphology 70 (2005) 257–278
but with effective discharges were not as large as
those at present. The question arises: was the big
channel molded by those Q ef or by others with a
similar value to those of the present, or had even
greater values occurred during the last decades of the
XIXth century?. Moreover, would not this first
period also be an unbalanced, aggrading time
(relaxation time in this case) of adjusting the channel
morphology to a situation of decreasing discharges?
If so, when did this time finish? Anyway, not enough
hydrologic and sedimentologic data exist to answer
these questions, so they remain a matter for
investigation.
Concerning these topics, Amsler and Ramonell
(2002) found at the Villa Urquiza–Bajada Grande
reach that x tended to a minimum of 4.0 N m/s/m2 by
the end of the bdryQ period during the 1960s with
minimum Q ef. They applied, as was stated earlier, Eq.
(5) with the gross channel dimensions. Observe in
Table 9 that by the same period, x t, tended to the
same value in the thalweg strip. Does it mean that by
that time the Paraná River channel reached an
approximate stable form? If so, this minimum power
value is characteristic of the equilibrium state to which
the Paraná River should tend with negligible changes
in h t and h 0. Combining Eqs. (1), (2) and (6), it would
be possible to estimate a B t (and also B 0) value of the
Villa Urquiza–Bajada Grande reach and a sinuosity,
P t, to which the thalweg should tend to adjust the
channel morphology to the present conditions of
effective discharge.
See also in Table 9 the minimum x t values that
occurred in the first decades of the century, a fact that
would be consistent with the suggestion made above
about the possibility of an aggrading stage of the
Paraná River channel during those years.
Finally, the reasonable good results of the
Chang’s approach concerning the geometric dimen-
sions of the thalweg irrespective of the assumption
of rivers in regime implicit in the method, would
suggest the importance of studying the flow
dynamics of the thalweg in transitional alluvial
courses (between meandering and braided), to
understand properly the morphological processes
affecting the complete channel. Ramonell et al.
(2002) and Amsler and Ramonell (2002) reported
detailed qualitative evidence that support this
suggestion.
275
7. Conclusions
(1) The main purpose of this study concerned the
influence of climatic fluctuations on the morphologic
behavior of the Paraná River channel reported for
South America during the 20th century. Climatic
variations were linked with changes of several geo-
metric parameters measured at two reaches of the
main channel. The link between climate and morphol-
ogy was the effective discharge computed for different
periods of the last 100 years.
(2) Through this linkage, two situations were
identified:
! bHumidQ climate periods at the beginning of the
century and especially after 1970 until the
present were reflected in high values of
effective discharges. These discharges had an
impact on the channel morphology by promot-
ing an increase in widths, braided indexes,
thalweg sinuosities, width/depth ratios and
channel volumes.
! A bdryQ climate period occurred in the midst of
the century between 1930 and 1970 when all
the previous parameters showed the opposite
tendencies.
(3) Within this general context, a series of
observations can be made:
! Evidence arose suggesting that the channel mor-
phology of the Paraná River did not reach a true
dynamic equilibrium at each of the above climatic
scenarios except, perhaps, on the end of the bdryQ
period. Notwithstanding, the tendencies described
in 2 were clearly in evidence as depicted in Figs.
10–13.
! The extremal hypotheses approach, in spite of not
being widely accepted, proved to be an useful tool
to gain some insight about river behavior. The
application of this theory revealed minimums
values for specific stream powers at the end of
the bdryQ period, after 40 years of a nearly constant
effective discharge. Moreover, it afforded quanti-
tative support to the suggestion that the first 30
years of the last century was part of a period (of
unknown extension yet), during which the river
was adjusting its morphology to a situation of
276 M.L. Amsler et al. / Geomorphology 70 (2005) 257–278

decreasing effective discharges, i.e., to an aggrad- responsible of the hydrographic measurements at

ing condition. the FICH, is also acknowledged. Special thanks
! Because of the lack of channel stability, together deserve the group of undergraduate students that
with complexities related to climate variations, any assist the authors in the FICH’s Sedimentology
prediction concerning river future behavior of the Laboratory. Without their help it would have been
river remain rather speculative. In this regard, nearly impossible to process the enormous volume of
Robertson et al. (2001) remark the potential river data synthesized in this paper. The suggestions
importance of decade-scale climatic fluctuations made by the paper reviewers that undoubtedly
on the Paraná River discharges based on the improved it, are gratefully acknowledged. This study
correlation found between the El Niño Southern was made within the framework of the project:
Oscillation (ENSO) periods, and the summer- bCharacterization of the thalweg shiftings at the
season monthly streamflows at Corrientes. The middle reach of the Paraná RiverQ, granted by the
important consequence is that these may be, to Universidad Nacional del Litoral and the Secretarı́a
some extent, predicted at a decade-scale. In de Ciencia, Tecnologı́a e Innovación Productiva,
considering this statement, however, the conclu- from Argentina.
sions of Garcı́a et al. (2002) about the anthropo-
genic component in the precipitation changes
began in 1970–1971 and its incidence on the Appendix A
future discharges of the Paraná River, must be
properly addressed. A brief summary of the main details concerning the
! The importance of the stream dynamics concen- cartographic material used in the two studied reaches
trated in the thalweg sector was clearly revealed in in the Paraná River is given next.
all the morphologic processes molding the com- Esquina–Pto. Gaboto reach
plete channel geometry. It would be a key issue to
understand the behavior of a transitional planform Period Number of bathymetric chartsa Scale
course (between meandering and braided) like the 1904–1906 26 1:5000–1:20000
Paraná River. 1932–1934 41 1:5000–1:10000
1969–1972 40 1:5000
1986–1989 52 1:5000
Synthesizing, a general picture was obtained of 1993–1996 2b 1:5000–1:10000
the morphologic changes that occurred during the a
The gross of the charts have isobates separated 1 m traced on the
last century in the main channel of the Paraná base of cross-sections recorded each with a 100–200 m separation
River along its middle reach that combined climatic along the channel.
b
variations and the effective discharge concept. On Charts were recorded during 1996 and had similar character-
istics to those of the other periods. Only depth data recorded along
the other hand, reasonable founded suggestions
the sailing line during 1993 and 1995 were available in digital
were advanced to explain certain features of those support.
changes that may contribute to design suitable
investigations towards answering the unsolved
questions. Period Number of satellite images Scale
1994 12 1:100000
3 1:50000
9 1:250000
Acknowledgments
Villa Urquiza–Bajada Grande reach
The authors are deeply grateful to the Distrito
Period Number of charts Period Number of charts
Paraná Medio of the Dirección Nacional de Vı́as 1905 2 1970–1972 4
Navegables from Argentina, who kindly supplied the 1920–1921 2 1988–1989 3
gross of the Paraná River bathymetric charts, 1934–1935 2 1996–1997 3
essential to make this study. Regarding this aspect, 1949–1950 4 2000 1
the collaboration of the field surveys specialists 1960–1961 3
 M.L. Amsler et al. / Geomorphology 70 (2005) 257–278
From the 24 charts, 21 were originally scaled at
1:5000, 2 at 1:10000 and 1 at 1:20000. The charts
have isobates separated 1 m traced on the base of
cross-sections recorded each with a 200 m separation
along the channel.
References
Alarcón, J.J., Szupiany, R., Montagnini, M.D., Gaudin, H., Prendes,
H., Amsler, M.L., 2003. Evaluación del transporte de sedimen-
tos en el tramo medio del rı́o Paraná. Primer Simp. Reg. sobre
Hidráulica de Rı́os, Memorias, papers in CD.
Amsler, M.L., Drago, E.C., in press. A review of the suspended
sediment budget at the confluence of the Paraná and Paraguay
Rivers. Hydrological Processes.
Amsler, M.L., Prendes, H.H., 2000. Transporte de sedimentos y
procesos fluviales asociados. In: Paoli, C., Schreider, M.I.
(Eds.), El rı́o Paraná en su tramo medio. Contribución al
conocimiento y prácticas ingenieriles en un gran rı́o de llanura.
Centro de Publicaciones, Universidad Nacional del Litoral,
Santa Fe, Argentina, pp. 233 – 306.
Amsler, M.L., Ramonell, C., 2002. Paraná river channel adjust-
ments to dominant discharge changes. River flow 2002.
International Conference on Fluvial Hydraulics, vol. 2. A.A.
Balkema Publ., Belgium, pp. 921 – 930.
Arnell, N.W., 1996. Hydrology and climate change. In: Pets, G.,
Calow, P. (Eds.), River Flows and Channel Forms. Blackwell
Sc., Oxford, England, pp. 243 – 256.
Biedenharn, D.S., Thorne, C.R., Soar, P.J., Hey, R.D., Watson,
Ch.C., 1999. A practical guide to effective discharge calculation
(Appendix A). In: Watson, Ch.C., Biedenharn, D.S., Thorne,
C.R. (Eds.), Demonstration Erosion Control—Design Manual.
U.S. Army Corps of Eng., Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA.
Chang, H.H., 1985. River morphology and thresholds. Journal of
Hydraulic Engineering 111 (3), 503 – 519.
DHGyA, 1983. Caracterización hidráulica del rı́o Paraná y sus
tributarios en el Litoral. Tercer Informe de Avance, No. 021/83.
Departamento de Hidrologı́a General y Aplicada, Universidad
Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina.
Drago, E.C., Amsler, M.L., 1998. Bed sediment characteristics
in the Paraná and Paraguay Rivers. Water International 23,
174 – 183.
Fernández, H.W., Larrañaga, F.B., 2002. Influencia de ENOS en el
régimen de precipitaciones en el cono sur de América.
Ingenierı́a Hidráulica en México 17 (3), 5 – 16.
FICH, 1993. Navegación con ultramarinos en el tramo Santa Fe-
Puerto San Martı́n. Factibilidad técnico-económica. Informe
Final. Facultad de Ingenierı́a y Ciencias Hı́dricas, Universidad
Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina.
FICH, 1997a. Análisis de la evolución de los principales parámetros
hidráulico-morfológicos que podrı́an influir sobre el comporta-
miento futuro de la obra de protección del Túnel Subfluvial
Hernandarias. Informe Final. Facultad de Ingenierı́a y Ciencias
Hı́dricas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina.
277
FICH, 1997b. Estudio de prefactibilidad para la navegación en el
tramo Puerto Paraná-Puerto Iguazú del rı́o Paraná y del rı́o
Paraguay hasta Asunción. Informe Final. Facultad de Ingenierı́a
y Ciencias Hı́dricas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe,
Argentina.
Garcı́a, N.O., 1994. South America climatology. Quaternary
International 21, 7 – 27.
Garcı́a, N., Vargas, W.M., 1996. The spatial variability of runoff and
precipitation in the Rı́o de la Plata basin. Hydrological Sciences
Journal 41 (3), 279 – 299.
Garcı́a, N.O., Vargas, W.M., 1998. The temporal climatic variability
in the dRı́o de la PlataT basin displayed by the river discharges.
Climatic Change 38, 359 – 379.
Garcı́a, N.O., Vargas, W.M., Venencio, M., 2002. About of the
1970/71 climatic jump on the dRı́o de la PlataT basin.
Proceedings 16th Conference on Hydrology. American Metero-
logical Society, Orlando, Florida, pp. 138 – 141.
Garde, R.J., Ranga Raju, K.G., 1977. Mechanics of Sediment
Transportation and Alluvial Stream Problems. Wiley Eastern
Ltd., New Delhi, India.
Giacosa, R., Paoli, C., Cacik, P., 2000. Conocimiento del
regimen hidrológico. In: Paoli, C., Schreider, M.I. (Eds.), El
rı́o Paraná en su tramo medio. Contribución al conocimiento y
prácticas ingenieriles en un gran rı́o de llanura. Centro de
Publicaciones, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe,
Argentina, pp. 69 – 103.
Iriondo, M., 1988. A comparison between the Amazon and Paraná
river systems. Mitteilungen aus dem Geologisch-Palaontologi-
schen Institut der Universitat Hamburg 66, 77 – 92.
Knighton, D., 1998. Fluvial Forms and Processes. Arnold Publ.,
Cornwall, England.
Krepper, C.M., Garcı́a, N.O., 2004. Spatial and temporal structures
of trends and interannual variability of precipitations over the La
Plata Basin. Quaternary International 114, 11 – 21.
Langbein, W.B., Leopold, L.B., 1964. Quasi-equilibrium states
in channel morphology. American Journal of Science 262,
182 – 194.
Mosley, M.P., 1981. Semi-determinate hydraulic geometry of river
channels, South Island, New Zealand. Earth Surface Processes
and Landforms 6, 127 – 137.
Paoli, C., Iriondo, M., Garcı́a, N.O., 2000. Caracterı́sticas de las
cuencas de aporte. In: Paoli, C., Schreider, M. (Eds.), El Rı́o
Paraná en su tramo medio. Una contribución al conocimiento y
prácticas ingenieriles en un gran rı́o de llanura. Centro de
Publicaciones, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe,
Argentina, pp. 27 – 68.
Ramonell, C.G., Amsler, M.L., Toniolo, H., 2002. Shifting
modes of the Paraná River thalweg in its middle/lower
reach. Zeitschrift fur Geomorphologie. Supplementband 129,
129 – 142.
Raudkivi, A.J., 1990. Loose Boundary Hydraulics. Pergamon Press,
Oxford, England.
Repossini, J., 1912. Memoria sobre el Rı́o Paraná. XIIo. Congreso
Internacional de Navegación. 1a. Sección-2a. Comunicación,
Filadelfia.
Richards, K., 1982. Rivers. Form and Process in Alluvial Channels.
Methuen, New York, USA.
278 M.L. Amsler et al. / Geomorphology 70 (2005) 257–278
Robertson-Rintoul, M.S.E., Richards, K.S., 1993. Braided-channel
pattern and palaeohydrology using and index of total sinuosity.
In: Best, J.L., Bristow, C.S. (Eds.), Braided Rivers. Geological
Society Special Publication, vol. 75. The Geological Society
Publ. House, London, pp. 113 – 118.
Robertson, A.W., Mechoso, C.R., Garcı́a, N.O., 2001. Interannual
prediction of the Paraná River. Geophysical Research Letters 22,
4235 – 4238.
Schumm, S.A., 1971. Fluvial geomorphology: channel adjustment
and river metamorphosis. In: Shen H.W. (Ed.), River Mechan-
ics, vol. I. Fort Collins, Colorado, pp. 5/1 – 5/22.
Schumm, S.A., 1985. Patterns of alluvial rivers. Annual Review of
Earth and Planetary Sciences 13, 5 – 27.
Schumm, S.A., Winkley, B.R., 1994. The character of large alluvial
rivers. In: Schumm, S.A., Winkley, B.R. (Eds.), The Variability
of Large Alluvial Rivers. ASCE Press, New York, pp. 1 – 9.
Thorne, C.R., Baghirathan, V.R., 1994. Blueprint for morphologic
studies. In: Schumm, S.A., Winkley, B.R. (Eds.), The
Variability of Large Alluvial Rivers. ASCE Press, New York,
pp. 441 – 453.
View publication stats
Toniolo, H.A. 1999. Las Divagaciones del Thalweg del Rı́o Paraná.
M.Sc. Thesis. Facultad de Ingenierı́a y Ciencias Hı́dricas.
Universidad Nacional del Litoral.
Toniolo, H.A., Amsler, M.L., Ramonell, C., 1999. Prediction of
the thalweg aspect ratio at a large alluvial river: the Paraná
River (Argentina). Proceedings XXVIII Congress of the
International Association for Hydraulic Research, Graz,
Austria. Papers in CD.
Vanoni, V.A., 1975. Sediment discharge formulas. In: Vanoni, V.A.
(Ed.), Sedimentation Engineering. ASCE-Manuals and Reports
on Engineering Practice, vol. 54. ASCE Publ. Division, New
York, pp. 190 – 230.
Winkley, B.R., Schumm, S.A., 1994. River variability-engi-
neering significance. In: Schumm, S.A., Winkley, B.R. (Eds.),
The Variability of Large Alluvial Rivers. ASCE Press, New
York, pp. 455 – 459.
Wolman, M.G., Miller, J.P., 1960. Magnitude and frequency of
forces in geomorphic processes. Journal of Geology 68, 54 – 74.
Yang, C.T., 1971. Potential energy and stream morphology. Water
Resources Research 7, 311 – 322.