A Presentation By Noah Brown Waterfalls

Main Features Hard Resistant Cap Rock Overhang Plunge Pool Curved (Undercut) or Straight Back Wall Knick Points Downstream

Where Do We Find Waterfalls? Youthful Age Stage/Upper Course V-Shaped Valleys Steep Gradients Slow Flowing Water Narrow Shallow River Channel Steep Valley Sides

How Are Waterfalls Formed? Water flows over hard rock, little erosion occurs but softer rock is eroded easily. Water picks up speed and plucks material from bed. Whirlpools appear and increase erosion. Waterfall carves deeper into the bed. Rock below hard rock shelf is soft. Splash back forms a shallow cave-known as a rock shelter. Overhang collapses and adds material to plunge pool. Material is broken down by attrition and erodes waterfall base by abrasion creating a deep plunge pool. Over time, waterfall will recede and form a canyon or gorge downstream as it recedes upstream.

Waterfall Formation Diagram

Types of Waterfalls Block: From wide stream or river. Cascade: Series of rock steps. Cataract: Large, powerful. Chute: Large quantity forced through narrow, vertical passage. Fan: Spreads horizontally as it falls and remains in contact with bedrock. Frozen: Has some element of ice. Horsetail: Descending water maintains some contact with bedrock. Plunge: Falls vertically, losing contact with the bedrock. Punchbowl: Falls in a constricted form then spreads out in a wider pool. Segmented: Separate flows of water form as it descends. Tiered: Series of distinct steps or falls. Multi-step: Series of waterfall, roughly same size each with its own sunken plunge pool.

Classification of Waterfalls Waterfalls can be grouped into ten classes based on the average volume of water, which depends on both the waterfall's average flow and its height, using a logarithmic scale. Victoria Falls and Kaieteur Falls are Class 9 Waterfalls.

Famous Waterfalls Victoria FallsNiagara Falls Yosemite Falls Sutherland Falls Tugela Falls Kahiwa Falls

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