Ecogeomorphic controls on wood and organic carbon dynamics in river corridors

River corridors (channels and floodplains) are active components of the carbon cycle, transporting, transforming, and storing carbon. However, the mechanisms governing carbon partitioning and storage in these environments remain only partially understood.

The seminar will present research showing how ecogeomorphic processes influence the storage and flux of sediment organic carbon (OC) and downed wood, two of the largest OC stocks in river corridors. A case study from the Snake River (Wyoming, USA) will illustrate how channel migration history and floodplain surface age affect sediment and soil OC storage. Additional examples from Colorado (USA), combining field data and physical experiments, will demonstrate how floodplain forest density, flood magnitude, valley slope, and confinement control wood transport and deposition.

Understanding these processes is essential for clarifying the role of river corridors in carbon cycling and for informing river management strategies.

All colleagues and students are invited to attend.