Surface Waters

Question 1

Uplift vs. Subsidence

Answer 1

Uplift: upward relative motion of a portion of the Earth’s surface

Subsidence: downward relative motion of a portion of the Earth’s surface

Question 2

*Erosion vs. Sedimentation

Answer 2

Erosion: removal of material from Earth’s surface

Sedimentation: the deposition of rock fragments, soil, organic matter, or dissolved material that has been eroded, that is, has been transported by water, wind, ice, or gravity

Question 3

Hydrologic Cycle

Answer 3

Involves the continuous circulation of water in the Earth-Atmosphere system

Question 4

Laminar vs. Turbulent Flow

Answer 4

Laminar Flow: Shallow, slow moving streams

Turbulent Flow: Broad, deep, fast moving streams

Question 5

Headward Erosion & Downcutting

Answer 5

Headward Erosion: Upstream erosion of channel

Downcutting: Channel deepening

Question 6

Tributaries vs. Trunk Channel

Answer 6

Tributaries - a river or stream flowing into a larger river or lake
Trunk Channel - the largest channel of a fluvial-distributive system

Question 7

Drainage Basin, Drainage Divide

Answer 7

Drainage Basins - Land areas that drain into a specific trunk stream

Also known as catchments or watersheds

Drainage Divide - are uplands that separate drainage basins

Question 8

*Discharge

Answer 8

The volume of water passing through a cross section of the stream in a unit of time

A = h x w

Q = Ac x Va

Question 9

Hjülstrom Diagram

Answer 9

A graph used by hydrologists and geologists to determine whether a river will erode, transport, or deposit sediment.

Question 10

*Transportation

Answer 10

The processes by which the sediment is moved along.

Question 11

*Deposition

Answer 11

The laying down of sediment carried by wind, flowing water, the sea or ice.

Question 12

Fluvial

Answer 12

Sediments deposited by the flowing water of a stream

Question 13

Floodplain

Answer 13

A generally flat area of land next to a river or stream

Question 14

Levee

Answer 14

ridge of sediments deposited along banks of river

Question 15

*Delta

Answer 15

a landform shaped like a triangle, created by the deposition of sediment that is carried by a river and enters slower-moving or stagnant water

Question 16

Deposition & Subsidence

Answer 16

Land subsidence is a gradual settling or sudden sinking of the Earth’s surface due to removal or displacement of subsurface earth materials.

Question 17

Base level (local & ultimate)

Answer 17

Lowest point to which a stream can flow

Question 18

Braided stream

Answer 18

channel composed of many smaller (braided) channels

Question 19

*Meandering stream

Answer 19

has a single channel that winds snakelike through its valley, so that the distance ‘as the stream flows’ is greater than ‘as the crow flies

Question 20

Oxbow

Answer 20

Oxbow-shaped meanders have two sets of curves: one curving away from the straight path of the river and one curving back.

Question 21

*Cut bank

Answer 21

The outside bank of a curve or meander in a water channel (stream), which is continually undergoing erosion

Question 22

*Point bar

Answer 22

A depositional feature made of alluvium that accumulates on the inside bend of streams and rivers below the slip-off slope.

Question 23

Flash flood

Answer 23

Typically caused by intense rainfall, or dam/levee failure

Question 24

Seasonal flood

Answer 24

Typically caused by spring melt or long periods of heavy rain