Streams Flashcards
How does running water form?
Begins as sheetflow
Sheetflow develops into rills
Rills develop into streamflow
What are the types of streamflow?
Laminar flow
Turbulent flow
What is laminar flow?
Streamlines are parallel
Slow
What is turbulent flow?
Streamlines intertwine
Fast
What factors determine velocity?
Gradient
Channel characteristics
Discharge
What is channel discharge?
Total volume of water in a stream moving past a particular point in a given period of time
What factors increase downstream?
Velocity
Discharge
Channel size
What factors decrease downstream?
Gradient
Channel roughness
What is competence?
Maximum-sized particles streams can carry
Determined by velocity
What is capacity?
Total load stream can carry
Function of discharge
What are the types of sediment deposits?
Channel deposits
Floodplain deposits
Alluvial fans
Deltas
What are channel deposits?
Bars
Braided streams
Deltas
What are floodplain deposits?
Natural levees
What are alluvial fans?
Develop where a high gradient stream leaves a narrow valley and then flattens out
What are deltas?
Forms when streams enter an ocean or lake
