Final Exam

Question 1

How are streams and rivers of a watershed classified?

Answer 1

By high and low orders: 1-12. 1st order are streams high up in watershed (S6), 12th order is the amazon river. To move up in order two streams with the same order must converge. Lakes are ignored.

Question 2

What affects a river’s discharge?

Answer 2

The watershed size, climate, soil types and riparian vegetation, slope

Question 3

At what depth in a river is current the fastest?

Answer 3

The surface, slowest at the bottom of river due to drag. Also affected by bedload size.

Question 4

What is the hyporheic zone?

Answer 4

The area underneath a riverbed.

Question 5

What is the difference between a effluent and an influent stream?

Answer 5

These are streams that are feed by ground water. Effluent streams gain water and influent streams lose water.

Question 6

What do hydrographs show?

Answer 6

Graphs that depict discharge over time. They show baseflow and strom flow.

Question 7

When does peak discharge occur in coastal streams?

Answer 7

Winter

Question 8

When does peak flow occur for interior rivers?

Answer 8

Spring