River catchment and its processes Flashcards
1
Q
What is a river catchment?
A
River/Drainage basin: the area of land from which water flows towards a river and then in that river to the sea
- topography
- ridge lines
- tributries
2
Q
Watershed
A
the ridge line, catchment boundary and divide
3
Q
Drainage network
A
system of river and channels in a basin, river network
4
Q
Phreatic divide
A
an underground watershed, marks the outer source of ground water flow
5
Q
Dendritic catchment pattern
A
the underlying rock is of uniform resistance to erosion
6
Q
Radial catchment pattern
A
where elevation drops from a central high area to surrounding low areas
7
Q
Rectangular catchment pattern
A
tectonic faults or bedrock joints
8
Q
Parallel or linear catchment pattern
A
steep relief or non-cohesive materials
9
Q
why drainage density is important
A
- reflects climate and basin characteristics
- water flows in channels faster than over slopes
- higher the density, more rapid flow
