The geometry of a meander is that of a random walk whose most frequent form minimizes the sum of the squares of the changes in direction in each unit length. Changes in direction closely approximate a sine function of channel distance. Depth, velocity, and slope are adjusted so as to decrease the variance of shear and the friction factor in a meander over that in an otherwise comparable straight reach of the same river.

This monograph discusses the mechanics of Meandering Rivers with the help of the mathematical and modeling tools built up in the previous monograph of the same Authors (monograph 1 of the present series). After introducing the reader to the ubiquitous character of meandering streams, we discuss the hydrodynamics of curved channels with fixed beds and banks. Next, we extend the analysis to account for the mobile character of the bed and show that it gives rise to the alternate sequence of riffles and pools that characterize river meanders. Allowing for the erodible character of the river banks then allows to build up a rational theory of meander formation able to explain most of the features observed in nature: meander growth, migration, skewing, multiple loops, cutoffs and meander belts.

This book deals with important topics of current interest, such as climate change, floods, drought, and hydrological extremes. The impact of climate change on water resources is drawing worldwide attention in these days; water resources in many countries are already stressed and climate change along with burgeoning population, rising standard of living, and increasing demand are adding to the stress. Further, river basins are becoming less resilient to climatic vagaries. Fundamental to addressing these issues is hydrological modelling which is covered in these books. Further, integrated water resources management is vital to ensure water and food security. Integral to the management is groundwater and solute transport. The books encompass tools that will be useful to mitigate the adverse consequences of natural disasters. This book is useful for those working in river and coastal engineering. River Engineering is important for fluvial hydraulics, sediment transport, morphometry, desilting, trap efficiency, silting and desilting process. Coastal engineering includes storm surge forecast, optimization of harbour, wave modelling, and shoreline changes.

Meandering patterns shaped by fluid flows are found over a broad range of landscapes, from bedrock channels to rivers and estuaries, deep-marine environments, supraglacial streams and other planets such as Mars and Venus. During the last six decades, meanders have been widely investigated by researchers from different fields, such as fluid mechanics, geomorphology, ecology, civil- and petroleum engineering, and geology. This volume seeks to push the science of meandering forward by bringing together insights gained from field, laboratory and numerical investigations of meandering streams found in distinct environmental and geological contexts. The authors pay particular attention to the interactions between autogenic and allogenic processes that affect meander kinematics and the resulting morphology, sedimentology and stratigraphic architecture. The findings presented in this volume contribute to a better understanding of stream meandering in diverse settings, with broad implications for stream and wetland restoration, land management, infrastructure design, oil exploration and production, carbon sequestration, hazard mitigation and planetary palaeoenvironmental reconstructions.

Rivers are important agents of change that shape the Earth's surface and evolve through time in response to fluctuations in climate and other environmental conditions. They are fundamental in landscape development, and essential for water supply, irrigation, and transportation. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the geomorphological processes that shape rivers and that produce change in the form of rivers. It explores how the dynamics of rivers are being affected by anthropogenic change, including climate change, dam construction, and modification of rivers for flood control and land drainage. It discusses how concern about environmental degradation of rivers has led to the emergence of management strategies to restore and naturalize these systems, and how river management techniques work best when coordinated with the natural dynamics of rivers. This textbook provides an excellent resource for students, researchers, and professionals in fluvial geomorphology, hydrology, river science, and environmental policy.