Rivers

by Andrew Perman | Sunday 22nd of January 2023

Rivers

The study of rivers is considered a core part of Geography at any level. The topic includes both physical and human elements, including the relationship between man and his environment. In this country alone, the first part of 2014 saw a continual newsfeed about the causes and effects of flooding (e.g. on the Somerset Levels). The causes and effects of flooding are seen across the world and this guide will examine the impact of this in both less economically developed countries (LEDCs) and more economically developed countries (MEDCs) as well as the attempts to control water.

The hydrological cycle is an important part of fluvial study, and understanding this and the water balance is important in assessing how natural processes are affected and how we attempt to manage them.

A river’s features, the processes occurring and associated landforms, change along its profile. In the upper, middle and lower stages, the same processes result in different landforms and the impact of human activity varies greatly too.

The management of rivers by humans includes hard and soft strategies and these are examined for their advantages and disadvantages.