Edgardo M. Latrubesse

Large rivers are essential to global environments and require an interdisciplinary analysis. This course provides an interdisciplinary perspective on the physical geography of large rivers. Because many of the largest rivers are located in the tropics, the course will emphasize large tropical rivers, particularly in South America.  The course will stress the importance of considering geologic and human controls on fluvial systems and the challenges for management. The course exposes students to both theoretical and applied fluvial geomorphology, and students will gain exposure to basic skills used to analyze fluvial systems through reading discussions and laboratory assignments. Specific topics to include land degradation, deforestation, river engineering, flood processes, sedimentology; floodplains management, ecohydrology, Quaternary fluvial geomorphology and paleohydrology.