Fluvial Processes and Landscapes
August 29, 2003
1.
Drainage Density The number of streams
within a specific area.
2.
Some key water terms
a.
Infiltration water is absorbed by the
soil.
b.
Evaporation water is returned to the
atmosphere
c.
Transpiration -- water is returned to the
atmosphere by plant respiration.
d.
Runoff amount of water left over
from Precipitation minus all of the above.
3.
Differential Erosion different rocks weather
differently based on their makeup.
a.
permeability the ability of a rock to
transmit water.
4.
Drainage Patterns (Fig.
11.2, p. 184)
a.
Dendritic no structural control on
drainage courses and uniform bedrock.
b.
Rectangular streams flow along zones
of weakened rocks adjacent to faults or joints. Streams usually meet at right
angles.
c.
Trellis resistant and
non-resistant rocks form valleys and ridges. Streams will have sub-parallel
orientation.
d.
Radial Streams radiate from an
isolated topographic high.
5.
Drainage system terms and
parts of the river
a.
Discharge
b.
Longitudinal
profile
c.
River
parts
i.
Drainage
Basin
ii.
Divides
iii.
Headwaters
iv.
Floodplain
v.
Terraces
vi.
Natural
Levee
vii.
Yazoo
Stream
viii.
Meander
ix.
Point
Bar
x.
Downstream
Bar
xi.
Oxbow
lake
xii.
Mouth
xiii.
Delta
xiv.
Distributaries
xv.
Headward
Erosion
xvi.
Piracy
xvii.
Alluvium
9. Floods
a.
Gauging
station measuring point on a stream
b.
Stage
elevation of the water surface
c.
Recurrence
Interval Average interval (in years) between floods of a particular size.