Have you ever wondered why rivers react differently to the same amount of rainfall?
Rivers have played a central role in the historical, cultural, and economic development of Quebec. The current and future ability of rivers to support both human life and wildlife depends on the quantity (flow) and the quality (chemistry) of the water that moves in river channels.
Through our lived experience or that of others that we hear on the news, we are all at least a bit familiar with the disasters—such as floods and droughts—that can affect rivers. But what happens in between those disasters?
Like living beings, rivers each have their unique identity, character traits, and behaviours.
Some rivers are characterized by regular water flow and water chemistry patterns. Other rivers have more irregular—and therefore less predictable—patterns. In other words, individual rivers beat to their own individual rhythm. Why does this matter?
Recent research has shown that irregular rhythms can make rivers more vulnerable to land use and climate changes.
Do you want to learn more about the rivers you drive above, live by, boat on, and fish in throughout Quebec?
“Discovering Arrhythmic Rivers” is a project centered around activities and online tools to better understand the diversity of river behaviours throughout Quebec.
