Dryland Rivers

Examines the processes operating in the headwaters and main channels of ephemeral rivers in semi-arid environments and includes coverage of current fieldwork investigations, modeling approaches, and management issues.

• focuses on dryland channel networks and processes
• presents a historical framework for research
• discusses examples of current studies and evaluates contemporary modelling approaches
• Emphasis is on the Mediterranean region, with comparisons to other dryland regimes eg California, Australia, Chile.

Part I An Overview of Dryland Rivers

Dryland River Characteristics and Concepts (L.J. Bull and M.J. Kirkby)

A Global Perspective on Dryland Rivers: Perceptions, Misconceptions and Distinctions (G.C. Nanson et al)

Part II Process in Dryland Catchments

Runoff Generation in Semi-Arid Areas (K. Beven)

Sediment Dynamics of Ephemeral Channels (I. Reid)

Modelling Event-Based Fluxes in Ephemeral Streams (J. Shannon et al)

Morpho-Dynamics of Ephemeral Streams (J. Hooke and J. Mant)

The Relationship between Alluvial Fans and Fan Channels with Mediterranean Mountain Fluvial Systems (A.M. Harvey)

Part III Channel Network Expansion

Gully Erosion in Dryland Environments (J. Poesen et al)

Channel Heads and Channel Extension (L.J. Bull and M.J. Kirkby)

Badland Systems in the Mediterranean (F. Gallart et al)

Part IV Flooding in Ephemeral Channels

Floods: Magnitude and Frequency in Ephemeral Streams of the Spanish Mediterranean Region (F. Lopez-Bermudez et al)

Synoptic Conditions Producing Extreme Rainfall Events along the Mediterranean Coast of the Iberian Peninsula (F. Alonso-Sarria et al)

Index

L. J. Bull is the editor of Dryland Rivers: Hydrology and Geomorphology of Semi-arid Channels, published by Wiley.

M. J. Kirkby is the editor of Dryland Rivers: Hydrology and Geomorphology of Semi-arid Channels, published by Wiley. Drylands are usually characterised by strong climatic contrasts with rivers suffering seasonal drought and occasional torrential rains. Drylands produce a characteristic balance of hillslope and channel processes that give dryland rivers their special features. The most obvious and important property of most dryland rivers is that flow is ephemeral. Hence the relative importance of many fluvial processes differs considerably from more humid regions. Although these characteristics are not unique to dryland rivers, they share many attributes that place them outside the normal range of temperate rivers and merit separate study.

Dryland Rivers is the first text to focus on dryland channel networks and processes and presents a historical framework for research, discusses examples of current studies and evaluates contemporary modelling approaches. Emphasis is on the Mediterranean region, with comparisons to other dryland regimes, with differing degrees of aridity, and with seasonality that may differ from the Mediterranean regime of wet winters and dry summers.

Dryland Rivers is a vital text for water engineers, environmental consultants, and researchers in geomorphology or semi-arid environments. It will be an invaluable reference to postgraduate students and undergraduates at level 2 and 3, especially those focused on dryland environments.