Topic 2-Fresh & Salt Water Systems Flashcards
Waves
A circular motion of water particles which causes a change in pattern that moves along the waters surface.
Tide
Daily change in water level of the oceans.
Stream Characteristics
Characteristics used to describe a stream
Sediments
Eroded rock fragments and soil carried by wind or water
Continental Divide
Highest point of land on a continent. Rivers flow into different oceans depending on which side of the divide they start.
Glaciers
A large moving body of ice
Climate
Average weather over a long period of time.
Currents
A stream of water that moves within a larger body of water
Water Shed
All the area of land that drains into one main lake
Describe the Stream Characteristic:
Glacier
A river or stream may start in the mountains where a glacier is melting. This is its source.
Describe the Stream Characteristic:
Stream
The water from the streams source collects into a channel that forms a small stream. The volume of the stream increases as other streams flow into it.
Describe the Stream Characteristic:
High Flow
In the rivers early sage, it flows swiftly and quickly
Describe the Stream Characteristic:
Meander
Soon the river reaches lower elevations, and the ground becomes more level. The river flows more slowly here. This causes it to move in large curves.
Describe the Stream Characteristic:
Flood Plain
The flat land on either side of the river becomes covered in water whenever the river overflows its banks.
Describe the Stream Characteristic:
Low Flow
At it’s mouth the river enters a lake or ocean. The flow of the water slows down much more.
Describe the Stream Characteristic:
Delta
When the river flows into a lake or ocean, it drops much of the sediment its carrying. This sediment forms a fan shaped deposit.
Describe the Glacier landform:
Moraines
Moraines form from rock and gravel that build up along the sides and at the end of the glacier. As the edges of the glacier melt, large deposits form.
Describe the Glacier landform:
Eskers
Eskers form when parts of the glacier melt. This melt water flows in tunnels under the ice. The melting releases sand and gravel from the glacier.
Describe the Glacier landform:
Drumlins
Drumlins are small hills with a distinctive tear-drop shape. They form when a glacier moves over moraines that formed earlier.
Describe the Glacier landform:
Kettle Lake
This type of lake forms when large chunks of ice left by the glacier melt.
