GGR 401S - 2001
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DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY
University of Toronto
COURSE OUTLINE
COURSE: GGR 401S - Fluvial Geomorphology
INSTRUCTOR:
Joe Desloges (desloges@geog.utoronto.ca)
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
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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
Research Paper
Final Exam
35%
30%
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.
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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, 281328
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
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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
Readings:
Classification of river channel patterns
Final selection of the topic for research paper
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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
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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.
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+
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
The problem of sediment yield
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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.
+ 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 (remember you read the first
part of this paper earlier in the course; concentrate on pages
268-280).
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, 255282.
WEEK 14:
SEMINAR ON SUSTAINABLE RIVERS
April 10
River/floodplain management and restoration
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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 401S - 2001
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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.
GGR 401S - 2001
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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.
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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.
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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.