Rivers are everywhere and affect everything. When all goes well, they provide us with water, power, food, transportation, recreation, and beauty. And when things go wrong, they wipe out our homes or even bring poisoned water to our taps.
But how much do we know about how rivers actually work? How can a river flood one year and dry up the next? Where do canyons come from? How do we make forecasts of floods and water supplies? How do changes in land use and climate impact our rivers? And how does the study of water flow across the landscape – known as hydrology – overlap with other natural and social sciences, from biology to finance, and astrophysics to conflict studies?
In this talk, environmental scientist Dr. Sean Fleming explores how math and physics can reveal the hidden secrets of rivers, offers insights into the deep relationships rivers have with landscapes, ecosystems, and people, and looks at the threats our rivers face and how we can protect them over the long run.
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