El. knyga: Congo Basin Hydrology, Climate, and Biogeochemistry - A Foundation for the Future: A Foundation for the Future [Wiley Online]

"The Congo River Basin is the world's second largest in terms of river discharge and drainage area. The largest is the better known Amazon River Basin. Because the Congo is much less studied compared to the Amazon, there are unanswered questions regarding the Congo's precipitation, hydrology, hydraulics, and carbon ecology. For example, based on a few remotely sensed altimeter measurements, it appears that the wetland water levels of the Cuvette Centrale are higher in elevation than the immediately adjacent Congo mainstem. The wetland does not appear to have large channels. Both of these observations are rather unlike what we find in the more familiar Amazon and its floodplain. Therefore, the question is open regarding how water exchanges between the world's second largest river and one of the world's largest wetlands. In turn, this question regarding hydrodynamics factors in to how carbon is exchanged and the role of precipitation in the wetland water balance. Questions like this are also evident for understanding how precipitation is driven by atmospheric jets, how much carbon is evading from the waters, and so on. These are first-order questions that require a collection of measurements and models to thoroughly understand and know the answers"--

New scientific discoveries in the Congo Basin as a result of international collaborations

The Congo is the world's second largest river basin and home to 120 million people. Understanding the cycling of water, sediments, and nutrients is important as the region faces climatic and anthropogenic change.

Congo Basin Hydrology, Climate, and Biogeochemistry: A Foundation for the Future explores variations in and influences on rainfall, hydrology and hydraulics, and sediment and carbon dynamics. It features contributions from experts in the region and their international collaborators.

Volume highlights include:

• New in-situ and remotely sensed measurements and model results
• Use of historic data to assess precipitation and hydrologic changes
• Exploration of water exchange between wetlands and rivers
• Biogeochemical processes in the Congo’s forests and wetlands
• A scientific foundation for hydrologic resource management in the region
• Studies from different parts of the Congo river and its adjoining basins

This book is available in English and French.

The American Geophysical Union promotes discovery in Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity. Its publications disseminate scientific knowledge and provide resources for researchers, students, and professionals.