Staff profile

• I'm a mathematically-minded physical geographer interested in how rivers work. My publications include work on channel pattern, hydraulic geometry, sediment loads, meltwater hydrology, gravel transport, downstream fining, flow resistance, and bedrock rivers.
• Type 'Rob Ferguson' into GoogleScholar for a full up to date list of publications and citations.

Chapter in book

• Reach-scale flow resistance
  
  Ferguson, R. (2013). Reach-scale flow resistance. In J. Shroder & E. Wohl (Eds.), Treatise on Geomorphology. (pp. 50-68). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-374739-6.00230-x
• Effects of tributaries on main-channel geomorphology
  
  Ferguson, R., & Hoey, T. (2008). Effects of tributaries on main-channel geomorphology. In S. Rice, A. Roy, & B. Rhoads (Eds.), River confluences, tributaries and the fluvial network. (pp. 183-208). John Wiley and Sons.
• Gravel-bed rivers at the reach scale.
  
  Ferguson, R. (2008). Gravel-bed rivers at the reach scale. In H. Habersack, H. Piegay, & M. Rinaldi (Eds.), Gravel-Bed Rivers VI: From Process Understanding to River Restoration. (pp. 33-53). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0928-2025%2807%2911112-3
• A framework for model verification and validation of CFD schemes in natural open channel flows.
  
  Lane, S., Hardy, R., Ferguson, R., & Parsons, D. (2005). A framework for model verification and validation of CFD schemes in natural open channel flows. In M. Bates & S. Lane (Eds.), Computational Fluid Dynamics Applications in Environmental Hydraulics. (pp. 329-355). John Wiley and Sons.
• Modelling reach-scale fluvial flows.
  
  Lane, S., & Ferguson, R. (2005). Modelling reach-scale fluvial flows. In Computational Fluid Dynamics Applications in Environmental Hydraulics. (pp. 217-269). Wiley.
• Flow structures in natural meander bends with recirculation.
  
  Ferguson, R., & Parsons, D. (2004). Flow structures in natural meander bends with recirculation. In G. Jirka & W. Uijttewaal (Eds.), Shallow flows. (pp. 325-331). Balkema.
• Flow structures in meander bends with recirculation zones: implications for bend movements.
  
  Parsons, D., Ferguson, R., Lane, S., & Hardy, R. (2004). Flow structures in meander bends with recirculation zones: implications for bend movements. In M. Greco, A. Carravetta, & R. Della Morte (Eds.), River Flow 2004. (pp. 49-59).
• Coherent flow structures in shallow gravel-bed rivers: an experiemental and numerical study.
  
  Lane, S., Hardy, R., Keylock, C., Ferguson, R., & Parsons, D. (2003). Coherent flow structures in shallow gravel-bed rivers: an experiemental and numerical study. In W. Uijttewaal (Ed.), Shallow flows. (pp. 259-266).
• Testing numerical models in geomorphology: how can we ensure critical use of model predictions?
  
  Hoey, T., Bishop, P., & Ferguson, R. (2003). Testing numerical models in geomorphology: how can we ensure critical use of model predictions?. In P. Wilcock & R. Iverson (Eds.), Prediction in Geomorphology, Geophysical Monograph 135. (pp. 241-255). American Geophysical Union.

Edited book

• Computational Fluid Dynamics: Applications in Environmental Hydraulics.
  
  Bates, P., Lane, S., & Ferguson, R. (Eds.). (2005). Computational Fluid Dynamics: Applications in Environmental Hydraulics. Wiley.

Journal Article

• Reconstructing a sediment pulse: Modeling the effect of placer mining on Fraser River, Canada
  
  Ferguson, R., Church, M., Rennie, C., & Venditti, J. (in press). Reconstructing a sediment pulse: Modeling the effect of placer mining on Fraser River, Canada. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 120(7).
• Quantifying Bed Surface Roughness in Bedrock and Boulder-Bed Rivers
  
  Houseago, R. C., Hodge, R. A., Asher, B., Ferguson, R. I., Hackney, C. R., Hardy, R. J., Hoey, T. B., Johnson, J. P. L., Rice, S. P., Yager, E. M., & Yamasaki, T. (2025). Quantifying Bed Surface Roughness in Bedrock and Boulder-Bed Rivers. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 130(5), Article e2024JF007996. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024JF007996
• Flow Resistance and Hydraulic Geometry in Gravel‐And Boulder‐Bed Rivers
  
  Ferguson, R., & Recking, A. (2025). Flow Resistance and Hydraulic Geometry in Gravel‐And Boulder‐Bed Rivers. Water Resources Research, 61(3), Article e2024WR038852. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024wr038852
• Predicting flow resistance in rough‐bed rivers from topographic roughness: Review and open questions
  
  Ferguson, R. I., Hardy, R. J., Hodge, R. A., Houseago, R. C., Yager, E. M., & Yamasaki, T. N. (2024). Predicting flow resistance in rough‐bed rivers from topographic roughness: Review and open questions. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 49(15), 4888-4907. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.6016
• Fluvial processes and landforms
  
  Ferguson, R. I., Lewin, J., & Hardy, R. J. (2022). Fluvial processes and landforms. Geological Society, London, Memoirs, 58(1), 257-270. https://doi.org/10.1144/m58-2021-18
• Roughness Calibration to Improve Flow Predictions in Coarse‐Bed Streams
  
  Ferguson, R. I. (2021). Roughness Calibration to Improve Flow Predictions in Coarse‐Bed Streams. Water Resources Research, 57(6), Article e2021WR029979. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021wr029979
• Limits to scale invariance in alluvial rivers
  
  Ferguson, R. (2021). Limits to scale invariance in alluvial rivers. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 46(1), 173-187. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5006
• Flow resistance and hydraulic geometry in bedrock rivers with multiple roughness length scales
  
  Ferguson, R., Hardy, R., & Hodge, R. (2019). Flow resistance and hydraulic geometry in bedrock rivers with multiple roughness length scales. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 44(12), 2437-2449. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4673
• Advance, Retreat, and Halt of Abrupt Gravel-Sand Transitions in Alluvial Rivers
  
  Blom, A., Chavarrías, V., Ferguson, R. I., & Viparelli, E. (2017). Advance, Retreat, and Halt of Abrupt Gravel-Sand Transitions in Alluvial Rivers. Geophysical Research Letters, 44(19), 9751-9760. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017gl074231
• Bed load tracer mobility in a mixed bedrock/alluvial channel
  
  Ferguson, R., Sharma, B., Hodge, R., Hardy, R., & Warburton, J. (2017). Bed load tracer mobility in a mixed bedrock/alluvial channel. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 122(4), 807-822. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016jf003946
• Flow resistance and hydraulic geometry in contrasting reaches of a bedrock channel
  
  Ferguson, R., Sharma, B., Hardy, R., Hodge, R., & Warburton, J. (2017). Flow resistance and hydraulic geometry in contrasting reaches of a bedrock channel. Water Resources Research, 53(3), 2278-2293. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016wr020233
• Erosion of organic carbon from the Andes and its affects on ecosystem carbon dioxide balance
  
  Clark, K., Hilton, R., West, A., Robles Caceres, A., Grocke, D., Marthews, T., Ferguson, R., Asner, G., New, M., & Malhi, Y. (2017). Erosion of organic carbon from the Andes and its affects on ecosystem carbon dioxide balance. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 122(3), 449-469. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016jg003615
• The cause of advective slowdown of tracer pebbles in rivers: Implementation of Exner-Based Master Equation for coevolving streamwise and vertical dispersion
  
  Pelosi, A., Schumer, R., Parker, G., & Ferguson, R. (2016). The cause of advective slowdown of tracer pebbles in rivers: Implementation of Exner-Based Master Equation for coevolving streamwise and vertical dispersion. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 121(3), 623-637. https://doi.org/10.1002/2015jf003497
• Morphodynamics: Rivers beyond steady state
  
  Church, M., & Ferguson, R. (2015). Morphodynamics: Rivers beyond steady state. Water Resources Research, 51(4), 1883-1897. https://doi.org/10.1002/2014wr016862
• Splitting rivers at their seams: bifurcations and avulsion.
  
  Kleinhans, M., Ferguson, R., Lane, S., & Hardy, R. (2013). Splitting rivers at their seams: bifurcations and avulsion. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 38, 47-61. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3268
• River channel slope, flow resistance, and gravel entrainment thresholds
  
  Ferguson, R. (2012). River channel slope, flow resistance, and gravel entrainment thresholds. Water Resources Research, 48(5), Article W05517. https://doi.org/10.1029/2011wr010850
• A coupled sediment routing and lateral migration model for gravel-bed rivers
  
  Raven, E., Ferguson, R., & Lane, S. (2011). A coupled sediment routing and lateral migration model for gravel-bed rivers. Hydrological Processes, 25(12), 1887-1898. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.7945
• Implications of climate change in the twenty-first century for simulated magnitude and frequency of bed-material transport in tributaries of the Saint-Lawrence River
  
  Verhaar, P., Biron, P., Ferguson, R., & Hoey, T. (2011). Implications of climate change in the twenty-first century for simulated magnitude and frequency of bed-material transport in tributaries of the Saint-Lawrence River. Hydrological Processes, 25(10), 1558-1573. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.7918
• Evolution of an advancing gravel front: observations from Vedder Canal, British Columbia
  
  Ferguson, R., Bloomer, D., & Church, M. (2011). Evolution of an advancing gravel front: observations from Vedder Canal, British Columbia. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 36(9), 1172-1182. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.2142
• Time to abandon the Manning equation?
  
  Ferguson, R. (2010). Time to abandon the Manning equation?. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 35(15), 1873-1876. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.2091
• Numerical modelling of climate change impacts on Saint-Lawrence River tributaries
  
  Verhaar, P., Biron, P., Ferguson, R., & Hoey, T. (2010). Numerical modelling of climate change impacts on Saint-Lawrence River tributaries. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 35(10), 1184-1198. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.1953
• Using sediment impact sensors to improve the morphological sediment budget approach for estimating bedload transport rates
  
  Raven, E., Lane, S., & Ferguson, R. (2010). Using sediment impact sensors to improve the morphological sediment budget approach for estimating bedload transport rates. Geomorphology, 119(1-2), 125-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2010.03.012
• A critical perspective on 1-D modeling of river processes: Gravel load and aggradation in lower Fraser River
  
  Ferguson, R., & Church, M. (2009). A critical perspective on 1-D modeling of river processes: Gravel load and aggradation in lower Fraser River. Water Resources Research, 45(11). https://doi.org/10.1029/2009wr007740
• The spatial and temporal patterns of aggradation in a temperate, upland, gravel-bed river.
  
  Raven, E., Lane, S., Ferguson, R., & Bracken, L. (2009). The spatial and temporal patterns of aggradation in a temperate, upland, gravel-bed river. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 34(9), 1181-1197. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.1783
• A modified morphodynamic model for investigating the response of rivers to short-term climate change
  
  Verhaar, P., Biron, P. M., Ferguson, R., & Hoey, T. (2008). A modified morphodynamic model for investigating the response of rivers to short-term climate change. Geomorphology, 101(4), 674-682. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2008.03.010
• Flow resistance equations for gravel-and boulder-bed streams
  
  Ferguson, R. (2007). Flow resistance equations for gravel-and boulder-bed streams. Water Resources Research, 43(5), Article W05427. https://doi.org/10.1029/2006wr005422
• Emergence of coherent flow structures over a gravel surface: A numerical experiment
  
  Hardy, R., Lane, S., Ferguson, R., & Parsons, D. (2007). Emergence of coherent flow structures over a gravel surface: A numerical experiment. Water Resources Research, 43(3), Article W03422. https://doi.org/10.1029/2006wr004936
• Estimating shear stress from moving boat acoustic Doppler velocity measurements in a large gravel bed river.
  
  Sime, L., Ferguson, R., & Church, M. (2007). Estimating shear stress from moving boat acoustic Doppler velocity measurements in a large gravel bed river. Water Resources Research, 43, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1029/2006wr005069
• River system discontinuities due to lateral inputs: generic styles and controls
  
  Ferguson, R., Cudden, J., Hoey, T., & Rice, S. (2006). River system discontinuities due to lateral inputs: generic styles and controls. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 31(9), 1149-1166. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.1309
• Tributary control of physical heterogeneity and biological diversity at river confluences.
  
  Rice, S., Ferguson, R., & Hoey, T. (2006). Tributary control of physical heterogeneity and biological diversity at river confluences. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 63, 2553-2566. https://doi.org/10.1139/f06-145
• Estimating critical stream power for bedload transport calculations in gravel-bed rivers.
  
  Ferguson, R. (2005). Estimating critical stream power for bedload transport calculations in gravel-bed rivers. Geomorphology, 70(1), 33-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2005.03.009
• The theoretical foundations and potential for large-eddy simulation (LES) in fluvial geomorphic and sedimentological research.
  
  Keylock, C., Hardy, R., Parsons, D., Ferguson, R., Lane, S., & Richards, K. (2005). The theoretical foundations and potential for large-eddy simulation (LES) in fluvial geomorphic and sedimentological research. Earth-Science Reviews, 71(4), 271-304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2005.03.001
• A simple universal equation for grain settling velocity.
  
  Ferguson, R., & Church, M. (2004). A simple universal equation for grain settling velocity. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 74(6), 933-937.
• Numerical modelling of airflow over an idealised transverse dune.
  
  Parsons, D., Wiggs, G., Walker, I., Ferguson, R., & Garvey, B. (2004). Numerical modelling of airflow over an idealised transverse dune. Environmental Modelling and Software, 19, 153-162.
• Flow in meander bends with recirculation at the inner bank
  
  Ferguson, R., Parsons, D., Lane, S., & Hardy, R. (2003). Flow in meander bends with recirculation at the inner bank. Water Resources Research, 39(11), Article 1322. https://doi.org/10.1029/2003wr001965
• The missing dimension: effects of lateral variation on 1-D calculations of fluvial bedload transport
  
  Ferguson, R. (2003). The missing dimension: effects of lateral variation on 1-D calculations of fluvial bedload transport. Geomorphology, 56(1-2), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0169-555x%2803%2900042-4
• Assessing the credibility of a series of computational fluid dynamic simulations of open channel flow
  
  Hardy, R., Lane, S., Ferguson, R., & Parsons, D. (2003). Assessing the credibility of a series of computational fluid dynamic simulations of open channel flow. Hydrological Processes, 17(8), 1539-1560. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.1198
• Emergence of abrupt gravel to sand transitions along rivers through sorting processes
  
  Ferguson, R. (2003). Emergence of abrupt gravel to sand transitions along rivers through sorting processes. Geology, 31(2), 159-162. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613%282003%29031%3C0159%3Aeoagts%3E2.0.co%3B2
• Gravel-bed river grain size information by automated image analysis.
  
  Sime, L., & Ferguson, R. (2003). Gravel-bed river grain size information by automated image analysis. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 73(4), 630-636.
• Publication practices in physical and human geography: a comment on Thrift's 'The future of geography'.
  
  Ferguson, R. (2003). Publication practices in physical and human geography: a comment on Thrift’s ’The future of geography’. Geoforum, 34, 9-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0016-7185%2802%2900082-9
• Velocity and flow resistance in step-pool streams.
  
  Lee, A., & Ferguson, R. (2002). Velocity and flow resistance in step-pool streams. Geomorphology, 46(1), 59-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0169-555x%2802%2900054-5
• Mobility of river tracer pebbles over different timescales.
  
  Ferguson, R., Bloomer, D., Hoey, T., & Werritty, A. (2002). Mobility of river tracer pebbles over different timescales. Water Resources Research, 38(5), Article 1045. https://doi.org/10.1029/2001wr000254
• Long-term slowdown of river tracer pebbles: Generic models and implications for interpreting short-term tracer studies.
  
  Ferguson, R., & Hoey, T. (2002). Long-term slowdown of river tracer pebbles: Generic models and implications for interpreting short-term tracer studies. Water Resources Research, 38(8), Article 1142. https://doi.org/10.1029/2001wr000637
• Fluvial aggradation in Vedder River: Testing a one dimensional sedimentation model.
  
  Ferguson, R., Church, M., & Weatherly, H. (2001). Fluvial aggradation in Vedder River: Testing a one dimensional sedimentation model. Water Resources Research, 37(12), 3331-3347.