Questions and Answers
What is a drainage basin?
All the land area that contributes water into a stream.
What is a divide?
Separates two drainage basins.
What are the four drainage patterns?
Dendritic, radial, rectangular, trellis.
Describe the Dendritic drainage pattern.
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Describe the radial drainage pattern.
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Describe the rectangular drainage pattern.
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Describe the trellis drainage pattern.
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What three factors control stream velocity?
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What is gradient in terms of stream velocity?
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What is discharge?
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What river has the world's largest discharge?
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Where does the Mississippi river rank in terms of discharge?
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How do the gradient, discharge, width, depth, velocity, and sediment size of a stream change from upstream to downstream?
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What is the formula to calculate gradient?
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What is the formula to calculate discharge?
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What is a hydrograph?
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How does the discharge of a stream change after urbanization?
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What is the ultimate base level?
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What are the three types of 'work' streams do?
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Describe deposition in streams.
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What is alluvium?
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What is the difference between a delta and an alluvial fan?
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What do natural levees do?
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What are yazoo tributaries?
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What is karst topography?
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What kind of rock do most caves form in?
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What acids are important in cave formation?
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Where do caves form relative to the water table?
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What direction do the meander loops of a meandering stream move?
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What are stalactites?
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What are stalagmites?
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What is a sinkhole?
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What is a column in cave terminology?
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What is the effect of retention ponds on hydrographs?
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What is an oxbow lake?
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Study Notes
Drainage Basin and Divide
- A drainage basin is the entire land area that contributes water to a stream.
- A divide separates two drainage basins, directing water flow into different areas.
Drainage Patterns
- Four drainage patterns exist: dendritic, radial, rectangular, and trellis.
- Dendritic Pattern: Resembles a tree with branches; influenced by land slope.
- Radial Pattern: Water flows outward from a central point, commonly found around domes or volcanoes.
- Rectangular Pattern: Occurs in areas with jointed bedrock, influenced by joints and faults.
- Trellis Pattern: Formed in folded mountain regions, characterized by alternating weak and resistant rock layers, e.g., the Appalachians.
Stream Features
- Oxbow Lake: A lake formed when a meander is cut off from the main river.
- Meander Scars: Remnants of dried-up oxbow lakes marking former river paths.
- Point Bar: Sediment deposit on the inside of meanders.
- Cut Bank: Area of erosion on the outer side of a meander.
Stream Types and Streams' Dynamics
- Braided Streams: Formed when sediment load exceeds capacity, leading to multiple channels.
- Young Stream: Characterized by steep slopes, no meanders, and features like rapids and waterfalls.
- Mature Stream: Displays wider valleys and begins to meander as down-cutting slows.
- Old Stream: Example: Mississippi River. Low gradient; significant meandering; broad floodplain.
Stream Velocity Control
- Stream velocity is influenced by gradient, friction, and discharge.
- Gradient: The slope of the stream channel; increased slope results in higher velocity.
- Friction: Rough surfaces slow stream flow; features like trees and boulders increase friction.
- Discharge: Volume of water flowing past a point; higher discharge requires increases in width, depth, or velocity.
Discharge Statistics
- The Amazon River holds the record for the largest discharge globally.
- The Mississippi River ranks 7th in discharge size.
Changes from Upstream to Downstream
- Upstream sees decreases in gradient and sediment size, while downstream experiences increases in discharge, depth, width, and velocity.
Hydrographs and Urban Impact
- A hydrograph charts a stream's discharge over time.
- Urbanization generally decreases lag time and increases peak discharge, raising flood risks and lowering the water table.
Erosion and Deposition
- Three primary functions of streams: erosion, transportation, and deposition.
- Erosion primarily occurs during high flow periods; most prominent in upstream areas.
- Transportation depends on the stream's competence (maximum particle size) and capacity (maximum load).
Alluvium and Types of Sediment Load
- Alluvium refers to sediment deposited by streams.
- Load types include dissolved, suspended (fine particles), and bed load (heavier particles rolling along the streambed).
Delta and Alluvial Fan
- A delta forms where a stream enters a lake or ocean, leading to reduced velocity and sediment deposition.
- Alluvial fans are similarly shaped deposits occurring on land.
Natural Features and Processes
- Natural levees form from sediment deposited by floodwaters along riverbanks.
- Backswamps: poorly drained regions behind levees.
- Yazoo Tributaries: tributaries that flow parallel to rivers due to blockages by levees.
Karst Topography and Caves
- Caves primarily form in limestone through the action of carbonic acid.
- Key features of karst landscapes include sinkholes, springs, disappearing streams, and natural bridges.
Meandering Streams Dynamics
- Meandering streams transport sediment mostly in suspension, characterized by sweeping curves.
- Incised Meanders: Occur in steep valleys when base levels drop, often resulting in deeper channels.
- Stalactites hang from cave ceilings, while stalagmites grow upward from cave floors; their meeting forms a column.
Important Features and Terms
- Spring: Natural water flow at the intersection of the water table and ground surface.
- Cutoff: A new, shorter river channel formed when a stream erodes through a narrow land section.
- Column: Formed when stalactites connect with stalagmites.
- Soda Straw: Hollow interior of stalactites.
Meander Evolution
- Meanders move laterally and downstream, with erosion dominating the outside curve and deposition occurring on the inside curve, forming point bars.
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Test your knowledge of drainage basins and their patterns with these flashcards from HU-PHS111 Chapter 5. The quiz covers key concepts such as divides and various drainage patterns like dendritic and radial. Perfect for reinforcing your understanding of hydrology concepts!