1. Rivers of the Boreal Uplands
- Author
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Kjetil Melvold, Jon Arne Eie, Lars-Evan Pettersson, Vegard Pettersen, Arne Johan Jensen, Nils Arne Hvidsten, Per Einar Faugli, Jan Henning L’Abée-Lund, Svein Jakob Saltveit, and Svein Haugland
- Subjects
Hydrology ,Geography ,geography.geographical_feature_category ,Boreal ,Peninsula ,business.industry ,Transport medium ,Boreal ecosystem ,Vegetation ,Precipitation ,North sea ,business ,Hydropower - Abstract
In Europe, the Boreal forest ecosystem centers around 60°N. The northern limit is roughly along the July 13 °C isotherm and the southern limit along the July 18 °C isotherm. This chapter describes the rivers within this region along the western coast of the Scandinavian Peninsula that drain into the Skagerrak or North Sea. A total of 173 major rivers belong to this region, of which 10 rivers have been selected to illustrate major characteristics. Although a general climate regime for the Boreal Uplands exists, a great variety of micro-climates occurs that significantly affects local vegetation. The south-eastern and northern watersheds are dominated by birch, pine and spruce, whereas western watersheds are dominated by birch. Watersheds in the Boreal Uplands can be divided into three main groups. Most watersheds contain rivers having considerable gradients, intermediate discharge, lakes in the headwaters in mountain regions, and some are even glacier-fed. The second group consists of large watersheds mainly situated in the southeast. These rivers are characterized by relative high discharge and long stretches with low gradients; large, deep lakes are common. The third group comprises of small watersheds in coastal areas. Here, rivers have low discharge, respond quickly to fluctuations in precipitation, and have intermediate gradients. Rivers of the Boreal Uplands have been of significant importance to humans for centuries as reproductive areas for Atlantic salmon, as a transport medium for timber, and for hydropower.
- Published
- 2009