Limnology of the Purari basin. Part 1. The catchment above the delta.

Abstract

Provides details of the limnology of the glacial lakes (4000-3500 m altitude), streams and ponds of high mountains and highlands (3500-1300 m), and streams and lakes of the humid tropical forest (1300-20 m) of this large catchment area in central and southern mainland Papua New Guinea. The Purari River, with its tributaries, is a short (630 km) fast-flowing waterbody. Amount of suspended sediments in the lower reaches (mean 254 mg/l) is close to the wet season mixed-type environment of Amazon tributaries, and in many other respects the Purari reflects the limnology of the upper reaches of this latter river. After damming the Purari at Wabo, the Aure would become the major supplier of sediments in the lower Purari and its delta. Retention of most of the Purari sediments in the reservoir would thus have a major impact on the river between Wabo and the Purari-Aure confluence, with intensified channel erosion.-P.J.Jarvis