Flooding dynamics in Okavango Delta

Introduction Conclusions References Tables Figures Back Close Papers published in Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions are under open-access review for the journal Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Abstract Introduction Conclusions References Tables Figures Back Close Abstract The Okavango Delta is a flood-pulsed wetland, the resources of which support a large tourism industry and subsistence of the local population. In order to obtain an insight into the influence of various environmental factors on flood propagation and distribution in this system, an analysis was undertaken of a 30-year record of hydrometric data (dis-5 charges and water levels) from one of the Delta distributaries. The analysis revealed that water levels and discharges at any given channel site in the analysed distributary are influenced by a complex interplay of flood wave and local rainfall input modified by channel-floodplain interactions, in-channel sedimentation and technical interventions, both at the given site and upstream. Additionally, cyclical variation of channel margin 10 vegetation due to nutrients recycling might play a role. It was shown that data from channels do not adequately represent flood dynamics and its change at the distribu-tary level. The paper contributes to the understanding of seasonal and long-term flood pulsing and their changes in low gradient systems of channels and floodplains.