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exogenous water
water that originates externally to the desert and flows through it
endoreic water
water that occupies closed drainage systems that will end in swamps
ephemeral water
water that flows intermittently after storm events
sheet floods
broad sheets of rapidly flowing water filled with sediment
channel flash flooding
rapid overland flooding that is funneled into narrow valleys
wadi
a steep sided valley formed by fluvial erosion
braided streams
stream composed of multiple channels that divide and rejoin
pediment
gently sloping areas of bare rock and debris
capacity
quantity of sediment a stream can transport
competence
size of sediment a stream can transport
alluvial fan
a fan shaped deposit of sediment formed when a stream’s slope is abruptly reduced
graded sediment
sediment particles have been deposited from coarse to fine
bajada
alluvial plain formed where several alluvial fans merge
playa (chott)
crusty layers of salt left behind when water evaporates
mesa
isolated, flat-topped plateaus with steep sides
butte
a flat topped tower of rock (eroded mesa)
scree
a collection of broken rock fragments at the base of a cliff
inselberg
a steep sided hill rising abruptly from a plain
pediplanation
extensive flat terrain formed by merging pediments
pluvials
wetter periods in the desert
badlands
distinctive landscapes formed by sporadic rainfall (deep wadis, mesa, buttes)
Note
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