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21 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Stream |
A natural body of flowing water. |
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River |
Stream of water of considerable volume. |
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Why are rivers important? |
Carry water and nutrients, important to the water cycle, are drainage surfaces for surface water, provide habitat, nourishment, and transport. |
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Cycle balances |
Water budget |
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Drainage basin/watershed |
Region from which a stream draws it water. |
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Discharge |
Volume of water flowing through a given cross section in a specified length of time. |
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Bedload |
Heavy material pushed mechanically along the bottom. Intermediate material carried in short hops. |
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Suspended load |
Light material is supported by flowing water. |
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Dissolved load |
Dissolution in water. |
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Stream Capacity |
Total load a stream can potentially move.
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Load |
Total quantity transported by stream.
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Stream Gradient |
Difference in elevation between two points divided by horizontal distance between them. |
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Higher gradient |
Higher velocity |
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Base level |
Lowest elevation to which stream can erode downward.
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Stream channel near headwaters |
Maximum velocity, high stream load potential, high erosion, minimal floodplain- transport of load downstream, v shaped river valley. |
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Down profile |
Gentler terrain, lower velocity, deposition of coarse load, braided channel form.
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Near mouth |
Maximum stream discharge, deposition of predominantly finer sediments, meandering. |
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How are stream deposits sorted? |
Stream energy. |
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Alluvial fan deposit |
Sudden velocity reduction |
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Braided Stream |
Obstacles in channel that slow flow enough to generate local sediment deposition. |
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Meanders |
Initiated by irregularities in velocity within stream channel. Erosion on outside bank, deposition on inside bank. |