Most rivers in the world run dry -- now and then

Science Daily

It's not uncommon for the Oak River, which flows through southwestern
Manitoba, CA., to stop flowing at this control dam. A PinP photo.

A new study found that between 51-60% of the 64 million kilometres of rivers and streams on Earth that they investigated stop flowing periodically, or run dry for part of the year. It is the first-ever empirically grounded effort to quantify the global distribution of non-perennial rivers and streams. The research, which was published today in Nature, calls for a paradigm shift in river science and management. Story here/

Rivers melt Arctic ice, warming air and ocean.

 SCIENCEDaily

An Arctic river in Alaska. Photo by mypubliclands 

A new study shows that increased heat from Arctic rivers is melting sea ice in the Arctic Ocean and warming the atmosphere. Details here.

Glacial rivers absorb carbon faster than rainforests, scientists find

The Guardian

Ellesmere Island, northern Canada. Satellite photo by NASA.
‘Total surprise’ discovery overturns conventional understanding of rivers. Story here.

Two-thirds of world's longest rivers throttled by mankind: study

PHYS ORG

The design of the "site c" dam in B.C.

Almost two in three of Earth's longest rivers have been severed by dams, reservoirs or other manmade constructions, severely damaging some of the most important ecosystems on the planet, researchers said Wednesday. Story here.