An introduction to river science: research and applications

Abstract

River science is a rapidly developing interdisciplinary field of study focusing on interactions between the physical, chemical and biological components within riverine landscapes (Thoms, 2006; Dollar et al., 2007) and how they influence and are influenced by human activities. These interactions are studied at multiple scales within both the riverscape (river channels, partially isolated backwaters and riparian zones) and adjacent floodscape (isolated oxbows, floodplain lakes, wetlands and periodically inundated flat lands). It is an exciting and robust field of study because of the integrative nature of its approach towards understanding complex natural phenomena and its application to the management of riverine landscapes. The modern era of river science is a challenging one because climate, landscapes and societies are changing at an ever-increasing rate. Thus, our use, perceptions and values related to riverine landscapes are also changing. The twenty-first century will be different to the twentieth century both in terms of the way in which we undertake research and manage rivers. Increasing globalisation and data availability will allow unique opportunities for sharing of information and experiences, at unparalleled rates. Therefore, we can expect an exponential upward trajectory in societies' understanding of rivers and their appreciation of them as one of the globe's key ecosystems. This will be especially true as the goods and services that rivers provide, in particular the demand for water as the resource, becomes scarcer in many regions. Water security is predicted to become a key global issue in the twenty-first century (Gleick, 2003). Thus river ecosystems and their associated landscapes are likely to be viewed and valued by society in the same way that the importance of tropical rainforests, as a regulator of climate change, became evident in the twentieth century.