Fluvial geomorphology and hydrography

Duration

20h Th, 15h Pr, 3d FW

Number of credits

Lecturer

Geoffrey Houbrechts

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

1) Rivers: the hydraulics and mechanics of open channel flow, sediment transport processes, falls and bedrock-channels; channel gradient and the long profile, incised and entrenched meanders; meandering river channels and floodplains, braided and anastomosed channels, alluvial fan model and deltas; river channel changes : adjustments of equilibrium, terraces; captures; networks and drainage patterns, antecedent rivers, surimposed rivers

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

To study the large mechanisms of the fluvial geomorphology : evolution of the landforms (forms and processes) and the main topic, the rivers :erosion and sediment transport processes, rivers pattern, evolution of the valleys (terraces, captures, antecedence, surimposition).

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Course of Geology

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Practical works are based on analyses of topographic maps and aerial photographs, about incised meanders, meanders in floodplains, captures and terraces.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

Rivers (20h).

Recommended or required readings

Les Rivières : 135 pages + dossier de lecture 
Ouvrages de référence : - Amat, J-P., Dorize,L. & Le Coeur, C. 1996 : Eléments de Géographie physique. Bréal, Paris, 416 p. - Bravard, J.P. & Petit, F. 1997 : Les cours d'eau : dynamique du système fluvial. Coll. U, A. Colin, Paris, 222 p. - Coque, R. 1977 : Géomorphologie. Coll. U, A. Colin, Paris, 430 p. - Derruau, M. 1994 : Les formes du relief terrestre. Masson, Paris, 115 p.
- Hugget R.J. 2003 : Fundamentals of Geomorphology. Routledge Fundamentals of Physical Geography, Routledge, London, 386 p. - Tricart, J. 1977 : Précis de Géomorphologie. Sedes, Paris, 345 p.

Syllabus and copy of power point slides are available. Papers are accessible by ORBI

Assessment methods and criteria

First session :
Theoretical course: written examination.
Practical works: written examination
 
Second session : 
Theoretical course: oral examination. 
Practical works: written examination

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

3 field trip days are organised in May

Contacts

Département de Géographie, Institut de Géographie, Bât. B11, 4000 Liège 1 (Sart Tilman) Secrétariat du Département : +32(0)4/366.54.78 - Geoffrey HOUBRECHTS : Tél. : +32(0)4/366.52.57 - e-mail : G.Houbrechts@ulg.ac.be