 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Topical Issues in Geomorphology
Climate change
Geomorphologists will play an important role in identifying slope instabilities caused by excess dry or wet conditions resulting from changed precipitation trends. For instance, in southern England, the annual water balance is predicted to decline, whilst the incidence of intense thunderstorms resulting in flash floods will increase. A more Mediterranean-style climate would result in greater pressure on water resources, and if not managed will result in more frequent hose-pipe bans and higher water bills. Hydrogeologists and geomorphologists will have to monitor groundwater levels - a falling groundwater table may cause clays in the ground to contract, resulting in ground subsidence and structural problems of building foundations. Also increased low flows will mean that ecosystems will be affected and more streams, particularly lowland areas, may run dry for several months every year. Spillage and seepage of pollutants, such as pesticides, heavy metals, chemical and organic effluent, are concentrated in water, causing ecological damage. The potential for flash floods will also have to be managed. In other regions, increased rainfall may increase, resulting in more landslides, blocking railway and road cuttings for instance.
River Restoration
River restoration is the restoration of the original (natural, pre-disturbance) form to the river. This may involve reinstating meanders, recreating ecological habitats and encouraging wildlife to return, and re-establishing "silver meadows", the seasonal flooding of the riparian zone of the river's floodplain. This has both ecological and pollutant-trapping benefits. A multi-disciplinary team, involving civil engineers, geomorphologists and ecologists, is needed to plan and execute a river restoration project. Fluvial geomorphologists are an intergal part of the team, needed to reconstruct information on the original form of the river, and to decide what geomorphological features (e.g. meanders, point bars, riffles) need to be created.
