Professors Miller and Wolman will examine an area along the Potomac River in eastern West Virginia that was struck by a catastrophic flood in November 1985. They will study the ways physiographic, hydraulic, and hydrologic conditions determine specific erosion features on alluvial river bottomlands. Flow simulation modelling will be used to produce patterns of river dynamics that will be compared with documented patterns of erosion and deposition on the valley floor produced by the flood. Catastrophic floods are major determinants of the evolution of river valley floors, but they are poorly incorporated into models of floodplain evolution. This research will augment our understanding of floodplain processes. The results of this research will be of considerable value for scientists and policy makers interested in floodplain land use and management.
