Progress in fluvial geomorphology and trend: A brief review

Abstract

Significance As an important branch in earth system science, fluvial geomorphology is the study of fluvial erosion-transport-accumulation processes (source-to-sink system), temporal-spatial change in fluvial landscapes, and impact of tectonic, climate and human activities on river evolution. Rivers connect the erosional domain of orogens and the depositional domain of ocean basins, which plays a crucial role in the earth surface system. Progress On the basis of a sysnthesis of main research progress in fluvial geomorphology in recent decades, this article discusses the new direction of fluvial geomorphology. With the application of high-resolution topographic data, the scope of fluvial geomorphology has expanded and deepened over the past decades, including new methods used to calculate surface erosion rates, innovation in sediment dating techniques, and the development of numerical simulations. Studies on fluvial reorganization and influences of tectonics, climate change, and human activity on river evolution have been greatly advanced. Conclusion and Prospects In the new era, fluvial geomorphology will focus on the frontiers in earth surface systems and national needs, strengthen the understanding of the mechanics of river formation and reorganization, and address major global and regional social-ecological issues. Furthermore, it needs to carry out the discipline overlap, serve the national strategy, and enhance its role in the research of the earth surface system.

Keywords

• fluvial geomorphology
• erosion and deposition
• numerical simulation
• human activities
• surface-earth system science