River Morphology A Guide for Geoscientists and Engineers

River Morphology deals with the interaction between flowing waters in rivers and their environment. Based on the representation of basic flow parameters, the geometry, classification and historic development of rivers are treated. Any change in the environment, occurring naturally or caused by man, leads to very sensitive reactions in river flow and transport. Thus this synopsis of geoscientific studies and hydraulic engineering experience is presented to help develop the unterstanding of how to handle nature with care.

1 Introduction.- 2 Historic Overview.- 3 Hydraulics of Stream Flow.- 3.1 Basic Laws of Channel Hydraulics.- 3.2 Influence of the Earth’s Rotation.- 3.3 Density Currents.- 4 Sediments.- 4.1 Differentiation Between Bedload and Suspended Load.- 4.2 Bedload.- 4.3 Suspended Load.- 5 Channel Geometry.- 5.1 Network Evolution as an Interconnected System.- 5.2 River Channel Patterns.- 5.3 Longitudinal Section.- 5.4 Cross-Section.- 5.5 Fargue’s Laws.- 5.6 Regime Theory.- 6 Classification of Rivers.- 6.1 Drainage Basins, Divides, and Their Structural Controls.- 6.2 Drainage Density, Channel Frequency.- 6.3 Drainage Systems, Types of Rivers.- 7 River History.- 7.1 River History as Part of Geological History.- 7.2 River History as Part of the History of Civilization.- 8 Investigations in River Morphology.- 8.1 Methods.- 8.2 Examples for Degradation of River Beds Below Barrages and Weirs.- 8.3 Possibilities for Rehabilitation of Degradation Stretches.- References.- Authors Index.