Advancing Theory and Modeling of River Systems Working Group

WG Chairs:

Dr. He Qing Huang

Beijing (China)

e-mail

Dr. Paul Carling

Southampton (UK)

e-mail

Dr. Ian Rutherfurd

Melbourne (Australia)

e-mail


Introduction to WG activity

Rivers in most parts of the world are experiencing ever strong disturbances of humans, which, in combination with climate change, have made river systems adjust their morphologies significantly, resulting in a wide range of degradation in aquatic habitats, extinction of fish species, loss of flood-retaining areas, etc. To minimize these negative effects, it is necessary to provide convincing predictions of the adjustments of river systems to the public and decision makers. However, rivers are dynamic systems that are too variable and behave in very complex manners. Although a lot of theoretical and numerical modelling frameworks have been proposed and practiced for quantitatively predicting the self-adjustments of river morphologies over the last several decades, there is no universal agreement as to which scientific methodological framework is of general use. Hence, to evaluate the physical/empirical bases and practical applicability of available theoretical and modelling frameworks is the main task of our working group. By doing so, our working group aims at achieving the following objectives:

  • To identify complex self-organized models of river systems through synthesizing the findings from case studies conducted in wide range of geographical areas;
  • To clarify confused understandings of the physical mechanisms underlying the self-adjusting process of river systems in terms of theoretical advancements in general physics, open channel hydraulics, sediment transport mechanics and hydrological processes;
  • To uncover the philosophical principles or the overarching scientific methodological frameworks governing the behaviors of river systems through evaluating the theoretical advancements and field justifications of available theoretical and modelling frameworks;
  • To provide guidelines for river system management in light of the evaluation over the advancements of theoretical and modelling frameworks.

Last WG Annual Reports:

Annual report 2023

Annual report 2020