Rivers & Streams

River/Stream

a body of water that is confined to a channel(riverbed) and moves down hill

flood plain

flooding that overfills other areas

LOW Water Table

stream has no surface flow

HIGH Water Table

has a permanent stream

Permanent Stream

stream will always flow

Ephemeral Stream

only has surface flow after flooding, rainfall, or snow

Traction

water abrasion; rolling and sliding of rocks

Bed Load Grain Size

sand + gravel

Suspended Load Grain Size

sill + clay

Dissolved Load Grain Size

ion

Turbulent Flow

overall flow rate is slower- going in different directions

Young River

steep sides + narrow channel

Middle Ages River

sloped sides + less narrow channels

Mature River

wide flood plain + meandering channel

Laminar Flow

all particles flow the same direction +

Cut Bank

erosion on the outer core

Point Bar

deposition on the inner curve