Examines the processes operating in the headwaters and main channels of ephemeral rivers in semi-arid environments and includes coverage of current fieldwork investigations, modeling approaches, and management issues.

• focuses on dryland channel networks and processes
• presents a historical framework for research
• discusses examples of current studies and evaluates contemporary modelling approaches
• Emphasis is on the Mediterranean region, with comparisons to other dryland regimes eg California, Australia, Chile.