Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
STRUCTURAL
(HYDROLOGY)
COMPOSITIONAL
(GEOMORPHOLOGY)
HYDROMORPHOLOGY
Fluvial Audit
River Styles
RHS
GeoRHS
MImAS
Flow Duration variability
PHABSIM
Stewart's Method
Low Flows 2000
MImAS
Stream Power Mapping
Indices of Biotic Integrity
Good Ecological Status
Biotopes
Equivalent
Flows
Indicators of
Hydrological
Alteration
Instream Flow
Requirements
RHS
Physical Quality
Objectives
Figure 31.2
Robust, process-based
and predictive typologies
incorporating full dynamic assessment
over the whole flow regime are
needed to define system variability
and reference condition - particularly
under scenarios of wider global
change. The tools in the centre of the
Venn diagram are among the most
adaptive and predictive approaches
currently available. This diagram is
cross-referenced with Table 31.2.
BIOGEOMORPHOLOGY
ECOHYDROLOGY
BMWP
SERCON
Rapid Assessment protocols
HABSCORE
LIFE database
FUNCTIONAL
(ECOLOGY)
are to be included in predictive river typologies.
Incorporating information on ecosystem resilience
would also lead to more relevant characterization
of aquatic ecosystems and a more robust
quantification of current and predicted ecological
status.
Robust, process-based geomorphological
typologies incorporating full dynamic assessment
over the whole flow regime are needed to
define channel types and reach variability. The
current lack of such techniques is illustrated by
the centre of the Venn diagram in Figure 31.2,
with a major factor being a lack of effective
communication between scientific disciplines.
Despite the advances, made, for example, by
the planimetric map syntheses of Hooke and
Redmond (1992), the channelization/maintenance
maps using fluvial audit methods (Sear
et al
.,
1995, 2003) and the development of an extensive
database of River Habitat Survey sites (Raven
et al
.,
1998b; Seager
et al
., this volume), reliable spatial
data and maps of channel modification are still not
widely available in the UK. During 2000-2010,
airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and
terrestrial laser scanning became well-established
methods in river science for gathering precise and
reliable topographic datasets. These are extremely
effective tools for digital elevation model (DEM)
generation, landscape modelling and analysis
(Plate 33). There are several benefits of this
new technology: (i) it is characterized by very high
speed data collection; (ii) datasets can be stored and
interrogated later for a wide range of information;
(iii) there is fine-scale resolution to the coverage -
therefore LiDAR data can be used to verify features
in the field; and (iv) accurate spatial data can be
easily and rapidly collected for large areas (Large
and Heritage, 2009). As the technology develops
further to become standard practice for recording
complex topography, a change of emphasis is
occurring as river scientists move from innovative
data capture to systematic surveying frameworks
with well-established data collection and analytical
protocols.
