Abstract Fluvial systems provide multiple life-supporting functions, but their values are affected by a range of anthropogenic disturbances. Hydromorphology is used as a conceptual framework for assessing the status of fluvial systems and design river restoration strategies but is rarely applied to nearly pristine environments. This paper presents one of the first assessments of river characteristics and changes in the Aysen Region, an area in southern Chilean Patagonia. The analysis of multitemporal satellite images allowed to define key patterns related to river morphology of the Exploradores river network. The Exploradores basin experienced only limited and recent human disturbances, and fluvial changes are related almost only to natural climatic or geomorphological processes. The river experienced moderate reduction of active channel width and braiding index over the past 70 years. The basin represents a suitable site to study fluvial processes and dynamics in nearly reference conditions, and changes due to the likely increase of human activities and disturbances in the near future.

中文翻译：

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智利巴塔哥尼亚近乎原始河流系统的水文形态特征和近期变化：探索河网

摘要 河流系统提供多种维持生命的功能，但其价值受到一系列人为干扰的影响。水形态学被用作评估河流系统状态和设计河流恢复策略的概念框架，但很少应用于近乎原始的环境。本文介绍了对智利巴塔哥尼亚南部地区艾森地区河流特征和变化的首次评估之一。多时相卫星图像的分析允许定义与 Exploradores 河网河流形态相关的关键模式。Exploradores 盆地仅经历了有限的近期人类干扰，河流变化几乎仅与自然气候或地貌过程有关。在过去的 70 年中，该河经历了活动河道宽度和编织指数的适度减少。该盆地是研究近乎参考条件下的河流过程和动力学以及由于人类活动和干扰在不久的将来可能增加而发生的变化的合适地点。