1. Streams and Rivers
Video: Grand Canyon

2. Streams (all notes)
Any flowing water.
The main agent of erosion on Earth.

3. Discharge
The amount of water in a stream.
More discharge = EROSION.

4. Stages of Stream Formation
Youthful
Mature
Old Age

5. Youthful High elevations V-shaped valley Rapids and waterfalls present
No floodplain
Capable of moving very large sediment (i.e. boulders)

6. Youthful

7. Mature
A few “S”-shaped curves = Meanders
Floodplains
Not capable of moving large sediment

8. Mature

9. Old Age Many meanders Very large floodplain Oxbow lakes
Can only carry smallest sediment: silts and clays

10. Old Age

11. Old Age

12. Oxbow Lake

13. Oxbow Lake

14. Stream Load –Sediment carried in a stream
Rolling and Bouncing of large sediment
Saltation of sand sized particles
Suspension of silt and clay
Dissolved salts
Animation

15. Terms to Know Alluvial fan Base level Bed load Channel Delta
Dissolved load
Tributaries
Erosion
Floodplain
Groundwater
Levee (natural)
Meander
Oxbow lake
Rapids
River
Stream
Suspended load
Waterfall