Fluvial Systems

The course presents an integrated view of the fluvial system for the environmental engineer and environmental scientist. The fluvial system is viewed in terms of the dynamics in the transfer of water and sediment, the structure of the river network and channel morphology, fluvial processes in the river, riparian zone and floodplain, and catchment and river management for sediment control.

The course consists of five sections: (1) Introduction to fluvial forms and processes and geomorphic concepts of landscape change. (2) A review of the mechanics of sediment laden flows and sediment transport. (3) The estimation of basin sediment supply from upland sheet, rill and gully erosion, and basin sediment yield. (4) Processes in the river, floodplain and riparian zone, including channel stability and channel erosion/sedimentation modelling. (5) Fluvial system management in terms of nonstructural basin management ideas.

The course is evaluated by a written examination. Teaching materials are lecture presentations and notes prepared by the instructor and additional papers distributed during the course.

Course details

• Instructor: Peter Molnar
• Language: English
• Place: HIL E 6
• Time: Thursday 12:45-14.30
• Office hours: Wednesday 3-5 (HIL D 23.1)
• Course content: PDF

Course schedule

Link to petmol WIKI

petmol WIKI

For interaction within the course among the students I have set up a WIKI page. Here you can enter any information you may have about the course and homeworks to share with the other students. Remember YOU enter information here to share with others, check what is new there. I also attach a short 2 pg user manual (Wiki_Studentenmanual.pdf).

The editing and uploading password is: st2010

Homework information

Homework reports may be written in English or German and printed copies should be delivered to the in-box in the Hydrology Group corridor on floor HIL D by the due date. All data needed for homeworks will be posted here.

Additional reading material

Section 1

• Syvitski et al. (2005) Impact of humans on the flux of terrestrial sediment to the global coastal ocean (PDF)
• Brierley et al. (2006) Landscape connectivity: the geographic basis of geomorphic applications (PDF)
• Gregory (2006) The human role in changing river channels (PDF)
• Bak and Paczuski (1995) Complexity, contingency and criticality (PDF)

Section 2

• Prosser and Rustomji (2000) Sediment transport capacity relations for overland flow (PDF)

Section 3

• Montgomery (2007) Soil erosion and agricultural sustainability (PDF)
• Casadei et al. (2003) Testing a model for predicting the timing and location of shallow landslides (PDF)
• Begueria (2006) Validation and evaluation of predictive models in hazard assessment and risk management (PDF)

Section 4

• Molnar and Ramirez (1998) An analysis of energy expenditure in Goodwin Creek (PDF)
• Poff et al. (1997) The natural flow regime (PDF)

Section 5

• Woolsey et al. (2005) Handbuch für die Erfolgskontrolle bei Fliessgewässerrevitalisierungen, EAWAG (PDF)