Fundamentals of Fluvial Geomorphology

Rivers are very significant as geomorphic agents and have a considerable influence on human activity, bringing benefits but also presenting a number of management problems. In order to address these successfully an understanding of the fluvial system is vital. The text provides an illuminating and accessible introduction to this complex and dynamic system by examining fluvial processes, the controls that govern their operation through space and time, the resultant variety of fluvial forms and the ways in which an understanding of the fluvial system can be applied in river basin management.

The second edition continues to provide the ‘fundamentals’ of fluvial geomorphology at the same time as covering recent developments in more depth. The chapter on channel form has been updated to include important progress made over the last 25 years such as increased understanding of small-scale flow-sediment interactions. New developments in data acquisition techniques such as aerial and ground based LiDAR, GPS, geophysical techniques and dating techniques are covered. The role of GIS in identifying and understanding change will also be included, as well as advances in numerical modelling techniques, There will be more emphasis on climate change. Finally there will be a greater focus on management and the important role of fluvial geomorphology in the implementation of recent legislation.

The book is divided into three main sections:

- The first section focuses on process regimes in modern fluvial environments, the controls that govern their operation and the importance of the linkages that exist between different parts of the fluvial system.

- The second examines the relationship between process and form in alluvial and bedrock channels by considering the complex response of river systems to environmental change and the vast range of spatial and temporal scales over which these changes occur.

- The final section provides an overview of channel management techniques, covering traditional and more recent environmental or ‘soft engineering’ techniques.

The Second Edition provides undergraduates with a clear understanding of how the fluvial system operates and the ways in which it responds to change. As with the first edition, straightforward explanations will be provided for concepts and mathematical formulae, using appropriate examples to show what they actually mean and why they are important. A holistic approach will be taken, with each section placed in its wider context, and important linkages will be highlighted through the use of cross-referencing to illustrate the interactions and feedbacks between different parts of the fluvial system.