@article{fdi:010061192,
  title = {{A} comparison of the suspended and dissolved matter dynamics of two large inter-tropical rivers draining into the {A}tlantic {O}cean : the {C}ongo and the {O}rinoco},
  author = {{L}araque, {A}lain and {C}astellanos, {B}. and {S}teiger, {J}. and {L}opez, {J}. {L}. and {P}andi, {A}. and {R}odriguez, {M}. and {R}osales, {J}. and {A}d{\`e}le, {G}eorges and {P}erez, {J}. and {L}agane, {C}hristelle},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}his study compares the total suspended sediment ({TSS}), total dissolved solids ({TDS}), and dissolved organic carbon ({DOC}) dynamics of two major inter-tropical rivers, the {C}ongo in {C}entral {A}frica and the {O}rinoco in {S}outh {A}merica, focusing on sampling undertaken during the period 2006-2010. {B}oth rivers are characterized by similar mean annual discharges into the {A}tlantic {O}cean, on its eastern and western margins, respectively. {F}or both rivers, the results presented are placed in the context of the available longer-term hydrological time series ({C}ongo: 1903-2010; {O}rinoco: 1926-2010). {T}he key features of the recent records of material flux for both rivers were established and compared with other published data from the 20th century. {T}he available discharge time series show that the rivers are characterized by similar maximum monthly discharges ({C}ongo: 75500m(3) s(-1); {O}rinoco: 85500m(3) s(-1)) and similar inter-annual variability ({C}ongo: 1.69; {O}rinoco: 1.66). {H}owever, contrasts in low-flow regime (minimum low flows: {C}ongo: 23000m(3) s(-1); {O}rinoco: 2300m(3) s(-1)) and seasonal variability ({C}ongo: 3.3; {O}rinoco: 37.2), as well as in material fluxes were identified. {S}pecific suspended sediment yields for the {O}rinoco (89t km(-2) yr(-1)) were very significantly higher than those for the {C}ongo (9.4t km(-2) yr(-1)). {T}hese differences are mainly explained by contrasts in the physiographic characteristics of the two river basins, such as their contrasting relief. {T}he differences between the {TSS} fluxes calculated for the {O}rinoco in this study and those indicated by published data from the second half of the 20th century can be explained by the impact of the hydroelectric dams built in the foothills of the {A}ndean {C}ordillera. {C}hanges in the {TSS} fluxes of the {C}ongo are mainly explained by the impact of climatic change on total runoff.},
  keywords = {{C}ongo {R}iver ; {O}rinoco {R}iver ; material fluxes ; suspended sediment ; dissolved solids ; dissolved organic carbon ; {CONGO} {FLEUVE} ; {ORENOQUE} ; {COLOMBIE} ; {VENEZUELA} ; {CONGO} ; {REPUBLIQUE} {DEMOCRATIQUE} {DU} {CONGO} ; {AFRIQUE} {CENTRALE} ; {AMERIQUE} {DU} {SUD}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{H}ydrological {P}rocesses},
  volume = {27},
  numero = {15},
  pages = {2153--2170},
  ISSN = {0885-6087},
  year = {2013},
  DOI = {10.1002/hyp.9776},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010061192},
}