River and Delta Systems

The overall intended learning outcome is to understand how rivers and deltas form and change, and to develop skills to analyze their physical, geomorphological, and sedimentological characteristics. After the course, you will:

1. have acquired advanced knowledge, explanations, and understanding on rivers and deltas: their morphodynamics and sedimentology at length scales ranging from particles to valleys and deltas, time-scales of seconds to millennia, and interactions between these scales;
2. have acquired advanced knowledge and understanding of how rivers and deltas adjust to altered boundary conditions (including human interference), thereby cross-cutting disciplinary boundaries of fluvial morphodynamics, engineering, geomorphology, and sedimentology;
3. have developed advanced quantitative skills, including on physics of flow (channel, mouth, floodplain), sediment transport (bedload and suspended), morphodynamics (bedforms, bars, channels, full deltas), as well as geomorphological reconstruction and sediment budgeting techniques;
4. be able to operate and adapt empirical, analytical, and numerical simulation tools to study fluvial and deltaic phenomena, and be able to evaluate critically the power and limits of these approaches;
5. be able to analyze and interpret scientific data and literature on fluvial and deltaic geomorphological processes (in modern deltas and river valleys) and clearly present this in writing or oral presentations.

You will study alluvial rivers and deltas at all relevant scales. This covers bedform morphodynamics in a channel (ripples, dunes, bars), rivers and their changes over time (avulsions, floodplain formation and abandonment), to delta backstepping from sea-level rise and recovery thereof (transgression, high stand). Our course is a unique integration of process-based geomorphological, sedimentological, and engineering approaches. It is structured across four themes: (a) theoretical hydrodynamics, morphodynamics, and sedimentology; (b) long-term geomorphic view on Holocene rivers and deltas, in relation to allogenic marine and drainage basin developments; (c) river and delta autogenic dynamics including the effects of avulsions, auto-compaction, and wetland-vegetation; (d) the origin of modern rivers, deltas, floodplains, and polders, including flood risk and engineering works. We end the course with a nice case study and a one-day field visit. For each theme, we will organize in-depth practicals to help you develop real-world, transferable skills including: analytical/quantitative skills (by data analysis using Python), technical skills (modelling with Delft3D hydro-morphodynamic simulation software),  ability to work in a team (through collaboration with fellow students), written communication skills (practical reports and abstracts),        verbal communication skills (by presenting your research to your fellow students), The course is part of a series within the Earth, Surface and Water curriculum, continuing in periods 3 and 4 with the morphodynamics of (a) Tidal Systems (GEO4-4435) and (b) Wave-dominated Coasts (GEO4-4434), and application within (c) Coastal Zone and River Management (GEO4-4403).