University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) - Research portal
Selected Publication:
Kalny, G; Laaha, G; Melcher, A; Trimmel, H; Weihs, P; Rauch, HP.
(2017):
The influence of riparian vegetation shading on water temperature during low flow conditions in a medium sized river
KNOWL MANAG AQUAT EC. 2017; (418):
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- Abstract:
- Stream water temperature limits the growth and survival of aquatic organisms; whereby riparian shading plays a key role in inhibiting river warming. This study explains the effects of riparian shading on summer water temperatures at a pre-alpine Austrian river, during heatwave and non-heatwave periods at low flow conditions. A vegetation-shading index was introduced for the quantification of riparian vegetation effects on water temperature. For maximum water temperatures, a downstream warming of 3.9 degrees C was observed in unshaded areas, followed by a downstream cooling of 3.5 degrees C in shaded reaches. Water temperature directly responded to air temperature and cloudiness. For an air temperature change of 2 degrees C we modelled a water temperature change of 1.3 degrees C for unshaded reaches, but lower changes for intensively shaded reaches. Similar daily variations at shaded reaches were up to 4 degrees C lower than unshaded ones. This study gives clear evidence that for a medium-sized pre-alpine river, restoration practices should consider that discontinuity of riparian vegetation should be less than 6000 m; with more than 40% dense vegetation in order to minimize water temperature increases due to unshaded conditions.
- Authors BOKU Wien:
- Kalny Gerda
- Laaha Gregor
- Melcher Andreas
- Rauch Johann Peter
- Trimmel Heidelinde
- Weihs Philipp
- Find related publications in this database (Keywords)
- riparian vegetation
- vegetation-shading index
- water temperature
- river vegetation management
- restoration
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