Towards a sociogeomorphology of rivers

Abstract

While human impacts on rivers and other landforms have long been a component of geomorphic research, little of this work explicitly includes insights into human agency from social science or recognises that in many cases rivers can be considered to be hybrid coproductions or "socio-natures". A socio-geomorphic approach proposed here has parallels with some aspects of sociohydrology and can extend and enrich existing geomorphic explanations of the morphology of, for example, urban rivers by explicitly recognising and working with the coevolution of the human and natural systems. Examples from recent literature illustrate ways in which these relationships can be understood and analyzed, showing a range of socio-natural influences in particular contexts that have material consequences for river morphology and recognising that events in the system have many forms. The approach recognises the importance of contingency in time and place together with the role and nature of both local and global knowledge. An important element of this approach is that it provides ways for understanding the nature, position and intention of geomorphic and other scientific interventions as part of the system, for example in the case of river restoration. This also leads to the need for reflexivity by geomorphologists and reconsideration of the nature of geomorphological knowledge by those involved in such work and with respect to sociogeomorphology as a whole.

A geomorphic perspective on the rights of the river in Aotearoa New Zealand

“…Third, the case study reinforces the need to understand how science can reify certain ways of living with nature. Inevitably, river scientists such as geomorphologists build upon selected societal and environmental values in framing their research questions and proposing interventions (e.g., Ashmore, ; King & Tadaki, ; Lave, ; Mould, Fryirs, & Howitt, ). Choices made have material outcomes.…”

Stuck between hard rocks and placelessness: A student perspective on the current state of physical geography

“…Although I have taken no explicit steps (until perhaps recently) to engage with broader geographic concepts, the slow rumination of these ideas resulted from interaction with my human geography colleagues, interactions that are truly unique and inimitable in other departments. These rich interactions have already led to fascinating, integrated work by others (e.g., Lane ; Ashmore ), but that research has not been highlighted during my education, and seems to remain at the margins of physical geographers’ awareness. Although a growing body of researchers are committed to building frameworks for integrated research (e.g., Lave et al ; Tadaki et al ), physical geographers remain under‐represented and perhaps ignorant of this trend.…”

Slow science, the geographical expedition, and Critical Physical Geography

“…Second, a key element of this mainstream natural science is the progressive engagement with questions regarding global change (Castree ) and human impacts upon global systems. Yet, and with some notable exceptions in relation to, for example, urban ecology (e.g., Francis ), hydrology (e.g., Lane ), and rivers (e.g., Ashmore ), there has been a marked lack of engagement of physical geographers in questions that genuinely integrate social and natural science, particularly within global change projects. My sense, in very general terms, is that the global change agenda is valued in Physical Geography as a justification for investment in natural field experiments.…”