GEOG20040

This module introduces fluvial (river), estuarine and coastal environments from a geomorphic systems perspective. Geomorphology is the study of landforms, and the materials and processes involved in landform formation and change. The principal geomorphological focus of our study is the river catchment, which includes valley hillslopes, river floodplains and river channels themselves. The course will also consider links to transitional waters (e.g. estuaries) and geomorphic process environments found in the coastal zone. During the course you will learn about the key themes and approaches employed by geomorphologists to understand these settings, and by the end of the module you should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the variety of landforms found in a range of catchment and coastal settings.

The form that a landscape takes is a reflection of the dominant processes and materials operating in the system, and the inherited boundary conditions in which the systems forms. An important aspect of this course is therefore understanding the controls responsible for a system’s behaviour, including the hydrological pathways, flow regimes and sediment dynamics. With this knowledge we will explore the connections between a system’s characteristics and environmental change. It is this integrated understanding of the dynamic nature of rivers (estuaries and coasts), that allows stakeholders to make informed (evidence-based) decisions for effective landscape management.