Remote sensing applied to the morphodynamics of the meandering Usumacinta River in the period 1986-2019

Resumo

The Usumacinta River (UR), one of the longest and most voluminous rivers in Central America, is a free-flowing river without significant anthropogenic control. However, its fluvial dynamics and interactions with the environment drive changes that are influenced by the hydraulic, morphological, and sedimentary conditions that evolve. Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are increasingly being utilized for the analysis of historical morphological changes in rivers, offering accelerated and predictive insights. In this study, we employed RS and GIS techniques to examine the morphodynamics of UR from 1986 to 2019, focusing on variables such as channel migration, channel width, sinuosity, and slope. Our analysis revealed that 91% of the 1,458 transects (each 1,400 m) exhibited low migration (<50 m) and only 0.61% experienced high migration (>200 m). The UR is characterized by high sinuosity (S = 2.01) and meandering channels with slopes ranging from 0º to 84º. These findings provide crucial data for policymakers and resource managers, offering a foundation for strategies aimed at protecting, conserving, and sustainably managing water resources in the UR basin.