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Published on: January 13, 2023
Human imprints on global riverfronts
Fanxuan Zeng1,2, Chunqiao Song3,4,5,6, R Iestyn Woolway7
1State Key Laboratory of Lake and Watershed Science for Water Security, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China.
Abstract:
Rivers are profoundly shaped by human activity along their water-land interfaces (riverfronts), yet the global distribution and drivers of these imprints remain poorly understood. Here we present a high-resolution global map of 7.52 million kilometers of riverfronts using satellite imagery and deep learning. We find that nearly 20% of global riverfronts are anthropogenically modified, primarily by agriculture (13.43%) and built-up areas (6.29%). A distinct modification belt spans parts of Africa and Eurasia, accounting for ~60% of global alterations, with imprint densities six times higher than elsewhere. This lateral fragmentation represents a pervasive human pressure that differs fundamentally from dam-induced longitudinal fragmentation, and is closely linked to deteriorating water quality and biodiversity threats. Environmental constraints and region-specific socio-economic dependencies further shape these spatial patterns. Our findings inform riverfront management and underscore the urgent need to reconcile development with the ecological integrity of these transitional zones.
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