Morphological assessment
Morphological assessment
Type
Hydromorphological assessment methods
Main description
Methods for morphological assessment differ from physical habitat assessment methods as they have a broader geomorphological perspective, and give a greater consideration to physical processes (e.g. hydrological and sediment continuity, sediment transport, erosion, channel adjustments) and alterations derived from human pressures. They are generally applied at the reach and catchment scales. They are process-oriented and also generally evaluate the river hydromorphological conditions at a greater temporal scale. We reviewed 23 methods in total (12 for European countries and 11 for non-European countries).
Strenghts, limitations and gaps
Morphological assessment methods take into account physical processes at appropriate spatial and temporal scales. The main limitation is linked to the complexity in assessing and understanding physical processes; indeed these methods need to be applied by specialists and the assessment is often limited by data availability (e.g. historical photo and maps, GIS data etc.).
Rivertypes
Related Pressures
- Sediment discharge from dredging
- Hydrological regime modification
- Artificial barriers downstream from the site
- Artificial barriers upstream from the site
- Sand and gravel extraction
- Sedimentation and sediment input
- Embankments, levees or dikes
- Loss of vertical connectivity
- Impoundment
- Alteration of riparian vegetation
- Channelisation / cross section alteration
- Other pressures
Related Measures
- No measures apply to this tool.
Related Hymo quality elements
- Quantity and dynamics of water flow (Class: Hydrological regime)
- River continuity (Class: River continuity)
- River depth and width variation (Class: Morphological conditions)
- Structure and substrate of the river bed (Class: Morphological conditions)
- Structure of the riparian zone (Class: Morphological conditions)
- Structure of the floodplain (Class: Morphological conditions)
Related Biological quality elements
Related Ecosystem goods and services
- No Ecosystem goods and services apply to this tool.
