Rivers and Discharge
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Questions and Answers

When did the 1955 flood in the city happen?

  • Easter Sunday
  • Christmas Eve (correct)
  • New Year's Eve
  • Thanksgiving Day

    • What is placer gold?

  • Gold found in rivers (correct)
  • Gold found underground
  • Gold found in mines
  • Gold found in mountains

    • What is lode gold?

  • Gold found in mines (correct)
  • Gold found underground
  • Gold found in rivers
  • Gold found in mountains

    • What can be seen from Google Earth in the area?

    <p>Dredge piles</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor influences the velocity and discharge of a river?

    <p>Slope or gradient of the river</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where can gold be found in a river?

    <p>In areas with black sand</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of discharge in a river?

    <p>Determines the erosional power of the river</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which river has the highest discharge in the world?

    <p>The Amazon River</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What caused the barren mountains in Weaverville, California?

    <p>Both a past fire and strip mining</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the average velocity of water at the mouth of a river compared to the head?

    <p>Faster at the mouth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the discharge of the Oroville Dam during the spillway incident?

    <p>110,000 cubic feet per second</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why does the Nile River have a lower discharge despite flowing near the equator?

    <p>Due to passing through a desert</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which river is being discussed in the text?

    <p>Amazon River</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the highest mountain in California?

    <p>Mount Whitney</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of a dam in a river?

    <p>To control the river's discharge</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic increases downstream in a river?

    <p>Channel size</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What causes a river to stop eroding and reach base level?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of valleys are formed in the headwaters of a river?

    <p>V-shaped valleys</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the longitudinal profile of a river?

    <p>The erosion and deposition of a river over time</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens when the land around a river is pushed up due to tectonic processes?

    <p>The river erodes straight down</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What caused the formation of the Rocky Mountains?

    <p>The subduction of the Farallon plate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term describes the process of sediment being carried away by a river?

    <p>Erosion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the amount of sediment a river can carry?

    <p>Load</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of load is composed of small particles that are suspended in the water?

    <p>Suspended load</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the clarity of water when referring to its drinking characteristics?

    <p>Turbidity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of load is composed of sediment that is dissolved in the water?

    <p>Dissolved load</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term is used to describe the process of sediment settling out in water based on its settling velocity?

    <p>Graded bed</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term describes the process of sediment being carried away by a river?

    <p>Transportation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the amount of sediment a river can carry?

    <p>Capacity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens when the land around a river is pushed up due to tectonic processes?

    <p>The river deepens</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the highest mountain in California?

    <p>Mount Whitney</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the clarity of water when referring to its drinking characteristics?

    <p>Potability</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which river is being discussed in the text?

    <p>Yazoo River</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What caused the formation of the Rocky Mountains?

    <p>Tectonic plate collision</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of discharge in a river?

    <p>To carry sediment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term refers to the maximum size of rock that a stream can carry?

    <p>Competence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term refers to the maximum amount of sediment a stream can carry?

    <p>Capacity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe sediment dropped by a stream?

    <p>Sediment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurs when the velocity of a river decreases, causing sediment to drop out?

    <p>Deposition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of stream occurs when there is a flat slope and a large amount of sediment?

    <p>Braided stream</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the lowest point a stream can erode to?

    <p>Base level</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the boundaries for floodplains called?

    <p>Natural levees</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main problem California faces in terms of water for agriculture?

    <p>Lack of rainfall in the summer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of rain in California falls in the northern part of the state?

    <p>75%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is the region of Death Valley in California characterized?

    <p>Pure desert and one of the hottest places on Earth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the definition of a desert in terms of precipitation?

    <p>Less than 10 inches of precipitation annually</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which region of California is known for its extensive agriculture?

    <p>Central Valley</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main concern regarding water supply for agriculture in California?

    <p>Sustaining agriculture during the summer months</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of water for California's economy?

    <p>Agriculture is a major industry in California</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which region in California receives very little precipitation, causing water availability issues?

    <p>Death Valley and the Mojave Desert</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the complex system of aqueducts in California?

    <p>To transport water from areas with rainfall to areas with high demand</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the two major problems California faces with water?

    <p>Rain falls at the wrong time of year and in the wrong location</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which mountains serve as a water source for agriculture in California?

    <p>Sierra Nevada mountains</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does snowpack in the Sierra Nevada mountains play in California's water resources?

    <p>It helps recharge the groundwater in the Great Valley</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What were the consequences of a 10-year drought in California?

    <p>High water prices and depleted aquifers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the process of water seeping into the ground and reaching the water table called?

    <p>Infiltration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of the planet's water is fresh water?

    <p>3%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term is used interchangeably with 'drainage basin' in the text?

    <p>Watershed</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of a divide in a drainage basin?

    <p>To define the drainage basin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the major river discussed in the text?

    <p>Mississippi River</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term is used to describe the volume of water flowing in a stream?

    <p>Discharge</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main factor that influences the velocity of a river?

    <p>Discharge</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is the slope of a river calculated?

    <p>Vertical change over horizontal change</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following drainage patterns is the most common?

    <p>Dendritic</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the most likely reason for nature to have a dendritic drainage pattern?

    <p>To maximize the efficiency of water flow</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a dendritic drainage pattern?

    <p>Radiating streams from a central point</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which unit is used to measure the velocity of water in a river?

    <p>Feet per second</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the formula for the area of a circle?

    <p>$A = \pi r^2$</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the units of area?

    <p>Square feet</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the units of discharge?

    <p>Cubic feet per second</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the average discharge of the river coming out of the Orville Dam?

    <p>20 cubic feet per second</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the size of a cubic foot compared to a basketball?

    <p>About the same size</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Characteristics of Rivers and Discharge Comparison

    • The mountains in Weaverville, California are barren on the eastern side due to a past fire and on the western side due to strip mining.
    • Gold can be found in areas where water flows fast and holds onto the gold particles.
    • Black sand, which contains high-density metals like iron and gold, is often found with gold.
    • The presence of magnetite crystals in black sand is due to the alignment with the magnetic field of the rocks in the coast range.
    • The amount of water flowing out of the Oroville Dam during the spillway incident was 110,000 cubic feet per second.
    • Velocity and discharge are important factors in stream characteristics and erosion.
    • Slope or gradient is a significant characteristic that influences velocity and discharge.
    • The velocity of water is generally greater at the mouth of a river compared to the head due to channel characteristics and smoother flow.
    • Discharge refers to the amount of water flowing through a river, and it determines the river's erosional power.
    • The Mississippi River is one of the largest rivers in the United States, with a discharge of 110,000 cubic feet per second during a significant event.
    • The Amazon River is the largest in the world in terms of both length and discharge.
    • The Nile River, despite flowing near the equator, has a lower discharge due to passing through a desert, making it the 29th largest in terms of discharge.

    River Erosion and Deposition

    • Streams carry three types of loads: suspended load, dissolved load, and bed load.

    • The bouncing of particles along the bottom of a river is called saltation.

    • Competence refers to the maximum size of rock that a stream can carry, while capacity refers to the maximum amount of sediment it can carry.

    • A river with a large capacity but low competence is a large river that is not moving very fast, like the Amazon.

    • A river with a large competence but low capacity is a fast-moving, small river that can carry larger rocks.

    • Deposition occurs when the velocity of a river decreases, causing sediment to drop out.

    • Sediment dropped by a stream is called alluvium.

    • Well-sorted deposits occur when a river is flowing fast and larger rocks settle out first, followed by smaller rocks and fine-grained sediment.

    • The settling velocity of sediment determines whether it will be carried or deposited by a river.

    • The longitudinal profile of a river shows its elevation changes from headwaters to mouth.

    • A braided stream occurs when there is a flat slope and a large amount of sediment, causing the river to flow in multiple channels.

    • Base level is the lowest point a stream can erode to, with ultimate base level being the ocean and temporary base level being a reservoir.Formation of Floodplains and River Flooding

    • Floodplains are formed through downward and side erosion by rivers.

    • A floodplain is a flat, fertile area that develops when rivers flood and deposit sediment.

    • Natural levees form along rivers, creating boundaries for floodplains.

    • Floodplains are important for agriculture and human settlements due to their fertile soil and proximity to water.

    • Rivers typically exceed their banks onto the floodplain once every two years.

    • Flood insurance rates are higher for areas prone to frequent flooding.

    • A 10-year flood occurs when water reaches the natural levee approximately once every 10 years.

    • A 50-year flood occurs when water covers the entire floodplain approximately once every 50 years.

    • A 100-year flood occurs when water overflows the top of the floodplain.

    • Flood insurance coverage is based on the average height the water will reach during a flood event.

    • Meanders are formed when a stream valley is lifted up and cuts straight down, creating a meandering stream.

    • Deposition features include deltas, which form at the mouth of a river where it meets a body of water.

    Water Resources in California

    • Death Valley and the Mojave Desert in California receive very little precipitation, making water availability a significant problem in the region.
    • The complex system of aqueducts is used to transport water from areas with rainfall to areas with high demand.
    • California faces two major problems with water: rain falls at the wrong time of year and in the wrong location.
    • The Sierra Nevada mountains, covered in snow, serve as a water source for agriculture in California.
    • Snowpack in the Sierra Nevada mountains helps recharge the groundwater in the Great Valley, which is crucial for agriculture.
    • During a 10-year drought, California experienced high water prices and depleted aquifers.
    • The Orville Dam incident filled up the aquifers to 70% in just one year, providing temporary relief.
    • The hydrologic cycle involves reservoirs and pathways for water movement, including evaporation, precipitation, and transpiration from plants.
    • Transpiration, the evaporation of water from plants, is significant for agriculture in California's Great Valley.
    • Infiltration occurs when water seeps into the ground and reaches the water table, leading to the formation of lakes.
    • Only about 3% of the planet's water is fresh water, with the majority locked up in glaciers.
    • Surface water, such as lakes and rivers, accounts for around 10-12% of the total fresh water, while groundwater makes up about 20%.

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    Description

    Test your knowledge on the characteristics of rivers and their discharge with this quiz. Learn about factors that influence velocity and erosion, discover the largest rivers in the world, and explore the fascinating relationship between water flow and the presence of valuable minerals like gold.

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