Department of Geography

GGR 401S - 2001 11

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY

University of Toronto

COURSE OUTLINE

COURSE: GGR 401S - Fluvial Geomorphology

INSTRUCTOR: Joe Desloges ()

Room 208 - Physical Geography Building (PGB)

45 St. George St. - Tel: 978-5234

Room 5047 – Sidney Smith Hall (SSH)

100 St. George St. – Tel: 978-4977

Prerequisites: GGR 201F, GGR 270Y (or equivalent)

Lectures/Labs:: Tue. 12-3. Room 101 or 107, PGB

Course Structure: A lecture and laboratory course that emphasizes fluvial processes, river mechanics and the association between environmental change and river regime.

Required Text: Knighton, D. (1998): Fluvial Forms and Processes: A New Perspective. Arnold, 383 p.

Objectives:

(a) An interpretation of the morphology of rivers and fluvial landscapes.

(b) To introduce the main processes that occur in rivers, and the means for observing them.

(c) To consider some of the techniques for analysis of river morphology and processes and understand the response to natural and human induced environmental change.

(d) To introduce the geomorphological, earth science, engineering and river management literature which is relevant to the subject.

PROGRAMME:

(1) Lectures: A detailed outline will be distributed in class.

(2) Laboratories and Demonstrations: There will be several demonstrations and three exercises to be handed in for marking consisting of computational and interpretive procedures. Collaborative effort in working out the problems is encouraged but individual reports must be submitted. The use of a spread sheet program (Excel, Lotus 1-2-3, Quattro-pro, etc.) will greatly facilitate the first two laboratory exercises. If you do not have access to such software please see the instructor.

Unless noted otherwise, laboratory assignments are due two weeks after they are distributed. Late penalties of 5%/day apply to all assignments.

(3) Research Paper. A list of specific topics will be provided. You are expected to access the literature relevant to the topic and write a 3000 word (approx. 10 pages) research paper.

(4) An effort will be made to organize a field trip to visit a reach of an MTRCA river.

(5) Examinations: there will be a formal examination scheduled by the registrar.

Evaluation: Laboratory Exercises 35%

Research Paper 30%

Final Exam 35%

General Comment: The course includes some basic physics and fluid mechanics as well as an appropriate amount of mathematical formulation required to introduce such topics.

Class Schedule and Reading List

* denotes assignment to be handed in for grading.

+ key readings on short-term reserve at the Earth Sciences Library.

WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION

January 9 Introduction to fluvial systems

Hydrological basis for fluvial geomorphology

LAB No lab

Readings: Text, ch. 1, 2 and 3

+ Church, M. 1988. Floods in Cold Climates. In Flood Geomorphology. V.R. Baker, R.C. Kochel and P.C. Patton (eds.), John Wiley and Sons, pg. 205-229.

Wolman. M.G. et al., 1990. The riverscape, in Wolman, M.G. and Riggs, H.C., editors, Surface Water Hydrology. Geological Society of America. The Geology of North America, v. O-1, 281-328

WEEK 2: OPEN CHANNEL FLOW

January 16 Mean flow structure

*LAB 1 River hydrology and hydraulics

Readings: Text, ch. 4 (pg. 96-107)

Simmons, D.B. 1969. Open channel flow. In R.J. Chorley (ed.) Introduction to physical hydrology. Methuen, 211 p.

+ Rhoads, B.L. 1996. Mean structure of transport effective flows at an

asymmetrical confluence when the main stream dominates. In: P.J. Ashworth et al. Coherent flow structures in open channels. John Wiley and Sons, 491-517.

WEEK 3: SEDIMENT TRANSPORT

January 23 Entrainment and suspension

Sediment sampling

LAB Demonstration of flume and calibration of flow velocity instruments.

Readings: Text, ch. 4 (pg. 108-118)

+ Simons, D.B., Richardson, E.V. and Nordin, C.F. 1965. Sedimentary structures generated by flow in alluvial channels. In Primary Sedimentary Structures and their hydrodynamic interpretation. SEPM, Special Publication 12, 34-54.

WEEK 4: BED LOAD AND BEDFORMS

January 30 Bed sediment movement and development of channel bedforms

*LAB 2 Sediment transport and channel bedforms

Readings: Text, ch. 4 (pg. 118-141); ch. 5 (pg. 187-205)

+ Meade, R.H., Yuzyk, T.R. and Day, T.J. 1990. Movement and storage of sediment in rivers of the United States and Canada, in Wolman, M.G. and Riggs, H.C., editors, Surface Water Hydrology. Geological Society of America. The Geology of North America, v. O-1, 255-280 (concentrate on pages 255-268 for now).

WEEK 5: RIVER REGIME

February 6 Tractive force and regime concepts

LAB Sediment entrainment and bedform development in the flume

Readings: Text, ch 5 (pg. 151-186)

WEEK 6: HYDRAULIC GEOMETRY

February 13 Hydraulic adjustments of channel cross-sections

*LAB 3 Classification of river channel patterns
Final selection of the topic for research paper

Readings:

Ferguson, R.I. 1986. Hydraulics and hydraulic geometry. Progress in Physical Geography 10, 1-31

Wharton, G. 1995. Information from channel geometry-discharge relations. In: A. Gurnell and G. Petts (eds.) Changing River Channels, John Wiley and Sons, 325-346.

WEEK 7: ** READING WEEK **

February 19-23 – no classes

WEEK 8: LATERAL STABILITY OF RIVER CHANNELS

February 27 Stability approach to channel pattern

LAB no lab meeting

Readings: Text, ch. 5 (pg. 205-241)

Church, M. 1994. Channel morphology and typology. In The Rivers Handbook, Vol. 1, Chapter 3, Calow P. and Petts, G.E. (eds.), 126-143.

Nanson, G.C. and Huang, H.Q. 1996. Anabranching rivers: divided efficiency leading to fluvial diversity. In Miller, A.J. and Gupta, A., Varieties in Fluvial Form, John Wiley and Sons, 477-494.

+ Kellerhals, R. and Church M. 1989. The morphology of large rivers: characterization and management. In Dodge, P. (ed.). Proceedings of the Large Rivers Symposium, Special Publication of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 106, 31-48.

+ Kellerhals, R., Church, M. and Bray, D.I. 1976. Classification and analysis of river processes. ASCE Proc. J. Hydraulics Division 102, 813-829.

Mollard, J.D. 1973. Air photo interpretation of fluvial features. 9th Canadian Hydrology Symposium: Fluvial Processes and Sedimentation: 341-380.

WEEK 9: MECHANISMS OF FLOODPLAIN FORMATION

March 6 Formation and classification of floodplains

LAB No Lab

Readings: Nanson, G.C and Croke, J.C. 1992. A genetic classification of floodplains. Geomorphology 4, 459-486.

Brown, A.G. 1996. Floodplain paleoenvironments. In: M.G. Anderson. D.E. Walling and P.E. Bates, Floodplain Processes. John Wiley and Sons, 95-138.

Knighton, A.D. and Nanson, G.C. 1993. Anastomosis and the continuum of channel pattern. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 613-625.

Moody, J.A., Pizzuto, J.E. and Meade, R.H. 1999. Ontogeny of a floodplain. Geological Society of America Bulletin 111, 291-303.

WEEK 10: FLUVIAL SEDIMENT FACIES: DEPOSITIONAL MORPHOLOGY

March 13 Fluvial facies models

LAB No lab

Readings: Rust, B.R. and Koster,E.H. 1984. Coarse alluvial deposits. In R.G. Walker (ed.) Facies Models 2nd edition, Geoscience Canada Reprint Series 1, 53-69.

Walker, R.G. and Cant, D.J. 1984. Sandy fluvial systems. In R.G. Walker (ed.) Facies Models 2nd edition, Geoscience Canada Reprint Series 1, 71-89.

WEEK 11: VERTICAL STABILITY AND RIVER METAMORPHOSIS

March 20 Channel aggradation/degradation: responses to base level and sediment yield changes

LAB Bibliography for research paper due

Readings: Text, ch. 5 (pg. 242-260), 6

Galay, V. 1983. Causes of river bed degradation. Water Resources Research 19, 463-471.

+ Desloges, J.R. and Church, M. 1991. Geomorphic implications of glacier outburst flooding in Noeick River Valley, British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 29, 551-564.

Baker, V.R. 1987. Paleoflood hydrology and extraordinary flood events. Journal of Hydrology 96, 79-99

WEEK 12: ALLUVIAL SEDIMENT SOURCES, STORAGE AND YIELD

March 27 The problem of sediment yield

Research Papers are due Thursday April 12th

LAB No Lab

Readings: Walling, D.E. 1983. The sediment delivery problem. Journal of Hydrology 65, 209-237.

WEEK 13: SEMINAR RIVER CHANNEL CHANGES

April 3 Human versus natural impacts. Cases from rural agricultural and urban systems

Readings Knox, J.C. 1999. Long-term episodic changes in magnitudes and frequencies of floods in the upper Mississippi River Valley. In Brown, A.G. and Quine, T.A. (eds), Fluvial Processes and Environmental Change. John Wiley and Sons, Chichester, 255-282.

WEEK 14: SEMINAR ON SUSTAINABLE RIVERS

April 10 River/floodplain management and restoration

Newbury, R. 1995. Rivers and the art of stream restoration. In: J.E. Costa et al., Natural and Anthropogenic Influences in Fluvial Geomorphology. Geophysical Monograph 89, AGU, 137-149.

GGR 401/1202 Supplementary References

Allen, J.R.L. 1970. Physical processes of sedimentation. London, Unwin.

Anderson, M.G., Walling, D.E. and Bates, P.D. 1996. Floodplain processes. John Wiley and Sons, London, 658 p.

Arnell, N. 1996. Global warming, river flows and water resources. John Wiley and Sons, Chichester, 224 p.

Ashworth, P.J., Bennett, S., Best, J.L. and McLelland 1996. Coherent flow structures in open channel flow. John Wiley and Sons, p. 733.

Baker, V.R., Kochel, R.C. and Patton, P.C. 1988. Flood Geomorphology. John Wiley and Sons. 350 p.

Beven, K. and Carling P. (eds.) 1989. Floods: hydrological, sedimentological and geomorphological implications. John Wiley and Sons, 290 p.

Beven, K. and Kirkby, M.J. (eds.) 1989. Channel network hydrology. John Wiley and Sons, 319 p.

Billi, P., Hey, R.D., Thorne, C.R. and Tacconni, P. (eds). Dynamics of gravel-bed rivers. John Wiley and Sons, Chichester.

Boon, P.J., Calow, P. and Petts, G. (eds.) 1992. River conservation and management. John Wiley and Sons, 470 p.

Brown, A.G. and Quine, T.A. (eds), 1999. Fluvial Processes and Environmental Change. John Wiley and Sons, Chichester, 413 p.

Carling, P.A. and Petts, G.E. (eds.) 1992. Lowland floodplain rivers: geomorphological perspectives. John Wiley and Sons, 302 p.

Chorley, R.J. (ed.) 1969. Introduction to physical hydrology. London, Methuen.

Collinson, J.D. and Lewin, J. (eds.) 1983. Modern and ancient fluvial systems. International Association of Sedimentologists Special Publication 6, Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford.

Dunne, T. and Leopold, L.B. 1978. Water in environmental planning. San Francisco, Freeman.

Gregory, K.J. and Walling, D.E. 1973. Drainage basin form and process. London, Arnold.

Gregory, K.J. (ed.) 1977. River channel changes. Chichester, Wiley (U.K.).

Gurnell, A. and Petts, G. 1995. Changing River Channels. John Wiley and Sons, Chichester, 442 p.

Henderson, F.M. 1966. Open channel flow. New York, Macmillan.

Herschy, R.W. 1995. Streamflow Measurement (2nd edition). E & FN Spon, London., 524p.

Hey, R.D., Bathurst, J.C. and Thorne, C.R. (eds.) 1982. Gravel-bed rivers: fluvial processes, engineering and management. Chichester, Wiley (U.K.).

Ikeda, S. and Parker, G. 1989. River meandering. Water Resources monograph 12, American Geophysical Union.

Kellerhals, R. and Church M. 1989. The morphology of large rivers: characterization and management. In Dodge, P. (ed.). Proceedings of the Large Rivers Symposium, Special Publication of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 106, 31-48.

Leopold, L.B., 1994. A view of the river. Harvard University Press, Cambridge. 298 p.

Leopold, L.B., Wolman, M.G. and Miller, J.P. 1964. Fluvial Processes in Geomorphology. Freeman, San Francisco

Linsley, R.K., Kohler, M.A. and Paulhus, J.R. 1982. Hydrology for engineers. N.Y. McGraw-Hill, 3rd ed.

Mayer, L. and Nash, D. 1987. Catastrophic Flooding. Binghampton Symposia in Geomorphology 18. Allen and Unwin

Miall, A.D. (ed.) 1977. Fluvial Sedimentology. Memoir 5, Canadian Society of Petroleum Geology.

Middleton, G.V. and Southard, J.B. 1977. Mechanics of sediment movement. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Short Course 3.

Morisawa, M. 1968. Streams: their dynamics and morphology. McGraw Hill.

National Research Council (Canada), 1989. Hydrology of floods in Canada: a guide to planning and design. Associate Committee on Hydrology. Government Publications of Canada, 245 p.

National Research Council (USA), 1999. Improving American river flood frequency analysis. Committee on American river flood frequencies. National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 120 p.

O’Halloran, D., Green, C., Harely, M., Stanley, M. and Knill, J. (eds.) 1994. Geological and landscape conservation. Proceedings of the Malvern International Conference 1993. Geological Society of London. 530 p.

Perillo, G.M.E. (eds). 1995. Geomorphology and sedimentology of estuaries. Developments in Sedimentology 53. Elsevier, 471.

Petts, G. and Foster, I. 1985. Rivers and Landscape. Arnold.

Petts, G. with Moller, H. and Roux, A.L. 1989. Historical change of large alluvial rivers: western Europe. John Wiley and Sons.

Petts, G. and Calow, P. (eds), 1996. River flows and channel forms. Blackwell Science, Oxford. 262 p.

Raudkivi, A. 1976. Loose-boundary hydraulics. 2nd ed. N.Y., Pergamon.

Reid, I. and Frostick, L.E. 1994. Fluvial sediment transport and deposition. In Sediment Transport and Depositional Processes. K. Pye (ed). Blackwell Publications, Oxford, p. 89-155.

Richards, K.S. 1987. Rivers channels: environment and processes. Institute for British Geographers, Special Publication 18. Basil Blackwell, Oxford. 320p.

A varying mix of papers on river processes and historical channels changes.

Rhodes, D.D. and Williams, G.P. 1979. Adjustments of the fluvial system. Dubuque, Kendall-Hunt.

Richards, K. 1982. Rivers: form and process in alluvial channels. London, Methuen.

Schumm, S.A. 1977. The fluvial system. N.Y., Wiley.

Schumm, S.A., Dumont, J.F. and Holbrook, J.M. 2000. Active tectonics and alluvial rivers. Cambridge University Press, 276.

Shen, H.W. 1971. River mechanics. Fort Collins, Co., Water Resources Press, 2 vols.

Smith. N.D. and Rogers, J. (eds.) 1999. Fluvial Sedimentology VI. Special Publication 28 of the International Association of Sedimentologists, Blackwell, 478 p.

Thornes, C.R., Bathurst, J.C. and Hey, R.D. (eds.) 1987. Sediment Transport in Gravel-bed Rivers, John Wiley & Sons

Webb, R.H, Schmidt, G., Marzolf, R. and Valdez, R. (eds), 1999. The Controlled Grand Canyon Flood. Geophysical Monograph 110, American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC. 367.

Wolman, M.G. and Riggs, H.C. 1990. Surface Water Hydrology. Geological Society of America. The Geology of North America, v.O-1.