Rivers In The Landscape

Rivers are the great shapers of terrestrial landscapes. Very few points on Earth above sea level do not lie within a drainage basin. Even points distant from the nearest channel are likely to be influenced by that channel. Tectonic uplift raises rock thousands of meters above sea level. Precipitation falling on the uplifted terrain concentrates into channels that carry sediment downward to the oceans and influence the steepness of adjacent hill slopes by governing the rate at which the landscape incises. Rivers migrate laterally across lowlands, creating a complex topography of terraces, floodplain wetlands and channels. Subtle differences in elevation, grain size, and soil moisture across this topography control the movement of ground water and the distribution of plants and animals. Rivers in the Landscape, Second Edition, emphasizes general principles and conceptual models, as well as concrete examples of each topic drawn from the extensive literature on river process and form. The book is suitable for use as a course text or a general reference on rivers. Aimed at advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and professionals looking for a concise summary of physical aspects of rivers, Rivers in the Landscape is designed to: emphasize the connectivity between rivers and the greater landscape by explicitly considering the interactions between rivers and tectonics, climate, biota, and human activities; provide a concise summary of the current state of knowledge for physical process and form in rivers; reflect the diversity of river environments, from mountainous, headwater channels to large, lowland, floodplain rivers and from the arctic to the tropics; reflect the diverse methods that scientists use to characterize and understand river process and form, including remote sensing, field measurements, physical experiments, and numerical simulations; reflect the increasing emphasis on quantification in fluvial geomorphology and the study of Earth surfaces in general; provide both an introduction to the classic, foundational papers on each topic, and a guide to the latest, particularly insightful and integrative references.

Rivers in the Landscape: Science and Management offers a comprehensive and accessible overview of the current state of knowledge for river process and form, taking a holistic approach to the subject with coverage of integrated river science and management in practice. The processes and forms present in channelized surface flow–rivers–are systematically explored in this book to • emphasize the connectivity between rivers and the greater landscape by explicitly considering the interactions between rivers and tectonics, climate, biota, and human activities; • provide a concise summary of the current state of knowledge for physical process and form in rivers; • reflect the diversity of river environments, from mountainous, headwater channels to large, lowland, floodplain rivers and from the arctic to the tropics; • reflect the diverse methods that scientists use to characterize and understand river process and form, including remote sensing, field measurements, physical experiments, and numerical simulations; • reflect the increasing emphasis on quantification in fluvial geomorphology and the study of Earth surfaces in general; • provide both an introduction to the classic, foundational papers on each topic, and a guide to the latest, particularly insightful and integrative references. Aimed at advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and professionals looking for a concise summary of physical aspects of rivers, this book emphasizes general principles and conceptual models, as well as concrete examples of each topic drawn from the extensive literature on river process and form.

Rivers and their watersheds constitute some of the most dynamic and complex landscapes. Rivers have sustained human communities, and human societies have utilized and altered river flows in a number of ways for millennia. However, the level of human impact on rivers, and on watershed environments, has become acute during the last hundred years or so. This book brings together empirical research and theoretical perspectives on the changing conditions of a range of river basin environments in the contemporary world, including the history and culture of local societies living in these river basins. It provides theoretical insights on the patterns and nature of the interaction between rivers and their use by human communities. The chapters are written from a variety of positions, including environmental science, hydrology, human ecology, urban studies, water management, historical geography, cultural anthropology and tourism studies. The case studies span different geographical regions, providing valuable insight on the multifaceted interactions between rivers and our societies, and on the changing riverscapes in different parts of the world. Specific detailed examples are included from Australia, Brazil, France, India, Iran, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, UK and USA. Chapter 11 of this book is freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.

Ellen Wohl offers a survey of the history & present condition of river systems across the US. After describing the biological chemical & physical aspects of the functioning of rivers, she discusses the changes as the result of development & federal management, & examines rehabilitation projects.

This deeply personal collection of essays paints a progressive view of the American West as seen by a geologist. The author traces her twenty years of living and conducting research in the natural landscapes of the West as she investigates the conflict between environmental history and widely held romanticized views of the region.

Examines interrelations between flood management, flooding, and environmental change, for advanced students, researchers, and practitioners.

Rivers and streams occupy a central and fundamental place within the British landscape. They are important features of the natural landscape, helping to shape the landforms, as well as providing a range of habitats for flora and fauna and affecting the lives of the people who live on or near them.

"There are two main themes to this book. Firstly that river systems represent the integration and end-product of all the processes operating within the drainage basin environment. And secondly that rivers are sensitive to the most subtle changes, particularly those induced by people. In explaining the properties and dynamics of river systems, the authors focus on new approaches, ideas and interpretations, but these are presented for the most part in a qualitative way."--Back cover.