Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives After completion of this subject, students should be able to: understand the ways in which water in general, and channelised flow in particular, acts as an agency of landform sculpture at and near the earth's surface; understand the important aspects of fluid flow and sediment transport in the context of geomorphology and landscape development; be able to see how a knowledge of the mechanical and other processes associated with flowing water can be linked conceptually to form a basis for considering landform evolution over time sclaes beyond direct human observation; have a sufficient grasp of erosional processes that they can bring an informed understanding to bear on the diverse erosional and land degradation problems arising from human disturbance of landscape processes, especially those involving flowing water; relate fluvial geomorphology to the broader disciple of geomorphology; understand the role of fluvial processes in longer-term landscape evolution and appraise critically literature and existing hypotheses.
Synopsis This subject is concerned with riverine erosion and transportation, and their role in the development of landforms. Processes on hillslopes, intimately related to fluvial processes, are also considered. Broad topics covered include basic fluvial hydraulics; the transport of material in solid form and in solution; the behaviour of alluvial stream channels and floodplains; and general controls on the rate of denudation at the earth's surface.
Assessment Written (2000 words): 40% + Examinations (3 hours): 40%) + Practical work: 20%