Challenges in Continental River Dynamics

• Continental River Dynamics is defined as a discipline.
• Constraints on CRD based on state-of-the-art are described.
• Challenges for improving CRD models and data are discussed.

Continental River Dynamics (CRD) is herein defined as modelling the flow dynamics in all channels of a continental-scale river basin using the physics-based Saint-Venant equations. At the boundary of hydraulics and hydrology, CRD requires significant collaborative efforts to make new progress. Six constraints and seven challenges are identified in the areas of dynamics, dimensionality, resolution, uncertainty, model coupling, and data availability. Three key short-term needs for CRD are identified as (1) scaling up Saint-Venant river models to continental scales, (2) standards for integrating river and hydrology models, and (3) methods for effective use of lidar data and synthetic methods for approximating geometry for 1D dynamic models. An over-arching need for comprehensive data collection programs for river geometry is discussed.