Program Overview

GEO513 River Hydrology and Geomorphology

Subject Description

In this subject, students gain in-depth knowledge about flow hydrology, hydraulic behaviour, landforms, and sedimentary deposits of rivers. Emphasis is given to flood hydrology, the mechanics of river flow, floodplain formation by meandering rivers, the effects of post-European settlement on the flow regime of rivers in the Murray-Darling Basin, and the management of degraded rivers. On completion, students will be able to critically apply the conceptual and practical frameworks that underpin the principles of river management.

Availability

• Session 1 (30)
• Online
• Albury-Wodonga Campus

Subject Information

Grading System

HD/FL

Duration

One session

School

School of Environmental Sciences

Enrolment Restrictions

Students who have completed GEO314 may not enrol in this subject.

Incompatible Subjects

GEO314

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:

• be able to recognise and describe the distinctive landforms and sediments associated with rivers
• be able to describe the principles of flow hydrology and channel hydraulics
• be able to apply specialised skills they have developed in field survey and the interpretation of hydrologic data, maps, and air photographs
• be able to critically apply the conceptual and practical frameworks that underpin the principles of river management with particular reference to channel change in Eastern Australia

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:

• Measurement of stream discharge
• The flood hydrograph - a case study of the Murrumbidgee River
• Flood magnitude - frequency analysis - a case study of flow regime change on the Murrumbidgee River since reservoir construction
• The mechanics of stream flow - viscosity, laminar and turbulent flow, Bernoulli Equation, upper and lower flow regimes
• Shear stress and resistance - the Manning Equation
• Stream sediment load
• River pollution - dissolved oxygen and eutrophication, salinity
• Scour and fill during floods
• Channel plan form - braided, meandering, anastomosing and straight
• Meanders - their formation and maintenance
• The flood plain - mechanisms of formation, sedimentology
• Channel behaviour - equilibrium, threshold and disequilibrium models - open and closed systems
• Channel response to long and short term climatic change
• Channel change in the period of European settlement in eastern Australia
• River management practices - erosion control, sediment movement, the role of the riparian zone and the use of environmental flows