This book provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of rivers affected by natural and anthropogenic disturbances in the southern Chile and Patagonia. It presents a detailed description of the rivers affected by climatic extremes, volcanic eruptions, large-wood dynamics and impacts, sediment-laden flows, and Glacier Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). Moreover, it contains an in-depth discussion of a variety of topics encompassing the ecosystem function of Pacific Patagonia rivers, the geomorphic signatures of Glacier Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and their impacts within river corridors, as well as the assessment of the associated natural hazards and risks. Further, it provides proposals for public and territorial policies that improve the management and sustainable strategies of the hazards and risks.

This book is conceived by leading researchers of the Universidad Austral de Chile and includes contributions by distinguished scholars from around the world. It attracts a widerange of readers, including scientific community, researchers, undergraduate and graduate students, and policy makers from Chile and abroad.

Chapter 1. An introduction to the rivers of southern Chile and Patagonia(Carlos Oyarzun).- Chapter 2. Disturbance and Ecosystem Function of Pacific Patagonia Rivers(Brian Reid).- Chapter 3. Morphologic adjustments in rivers affected by volcanic eruptions, Chile(Andrés Iroumé, Ramon J. Batalla).- Chapter 4. The geomorphic signatures in a radial drainage system affected by the recent eruption of the Calbuco volcano, Lake district, Chile(Christopher Sepúlveda, Bruno Mazzorana, Hector Ulloa, Andres Iroumé).- Chapter 5. Investigating the geomorphological footprint of Glacier Lake Outbust Floods (GLOFs) in Patagonian Rivers(Diego Bahamondes, Bruno Mazzorana, Pablo Iribarren, Hector Ulloa).- Chapter 6. Cascading impacts of GLOFs in fluvial systems: the Laguna Espontánea GLOF in Patagonia(Pablo Iribarren Anacona, Luca Mao, Valeria Zingaretti, Gonzalo Durán, Ivan Rojas, Camila Bañales-Seguel).- Chapter 7. Large Wood Research in Chile: a retrospective and prospective view(Héctor Ulloa, AndrésIroumé).- Chapter 8. Improving the channel network management after a large infrequent disturbance, taking advantage of sediment connectivity analysis(Lorenzo Martini, LorenzoPicco, Marco Cavalli, Andrés Iroumé).- Chapter 9. Mitigating complex flood risks in Southern Chile: Towards a sustainable strategy(Bruno Mazzorana, V. Ruiz-Villanueva, B. Gems, Carlos Oyarzún).- Chapter 10. Cascading processes and complex risks in Chile: lessons learnt and remaining challenges(V. Ruiz-Villanueva, Bruno Mazzorana).