Running Water

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Chapter 15
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Well study running water first!
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Running Water
Streamflow the ability for a stream to erode
depends upon the streams velocity.
What affects stream velocity?
1. Gradient or slope (see next slide for pic)
2. Channel Charac. size, shape and roughness
3. Discharge
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The Work of Streams
Transportation..
Streams carry sediments as. 1. Dissolved
load 2. Suspended load 3. Bed load
Deposition. When a streams velocity decreases,
the stream deposits
sediments form DELTAS, NATURAL LEVEES, BACK
SWAMPS
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Stream Valleys

• Two Types Narrow (V-Shaped) and Wide

Narrow
Wide
Stream is downcutting to base level
Erosion is on the sides rather than down
Flat valley floor - floodplain
Rapids and waterfalls
Meanders resulting in oxbow lakes
Youthful streams/rivers
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Which is young? Which is old?
Younger stream
Older stream
Click here for preview of stream/river formation
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Drainage Basins

• All Streams/Rivers have a Drainage Basin...

LAND THAT CONTRIBUTES WATER TO THE STREAM

• Drainage basins are separated from one another
  by an imaginary line called a DIVIDE.

• Drainage basins and divides create DRAINAGE
• SYSTEMS see handout for four types.

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Stream/river anatomy
Remember running water is the MAJOR force of
Erosion.
Tributaries
Well be doing a project on the river basins in
North Carolina..
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