1. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Running Water Earth, 10e - Chapter 16

2. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Hydrologic Cycle The hydrologic cycle is a summary of the circulation of Earth’s water supply. Processes involved in the hydrologic cycle are: Precipitation Evaporation Infiltration Runoff Transpiration

3. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Hydrologic Cycle

4. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Sources of Earth’s Water

5. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Running Water Begins as sheet flow Infiltration capacity is controlled by: – Intensity and duration of rainfall – Prior wetted condition of the soil – Soil texture – Slope of the land – Nature of the vegetative cover Sheet flow develops into tiny channels called rills.

6. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Running Water Drainage networks Land area that contributes water to the stream is the drainage basin. Imaginary line separating one basin from another is called a divide.

7. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Drainage Basin

8. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Continental Divide

9. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Streamflow Two types of flow determined primarily by velocity: – Laminar flow – Turbulent flow Factors that determine velocity – Gradient, or slope – Channel characteristics, including shape, size, and roughness

10. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Streamflow Factors that determine velocity – Discharge is the volume of water moving past a given point in a certain amount of time. Changes from upstream to downstream Profile – Cross-sectional view of a stream – Viewed from the head (headwaters or source) to the mouth of a stream

11. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. World’s Largest Rivers Ranked by Discharge

12. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Streamflow Changes from upstream to downstream Profile – Profile is a smooth curve. – Gradient decreases downstream. Factors that increase downstream – Velocity – Discharge – Channel size

13. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Maximum velocity

14. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Longitudinal Profile of Kings River, California

15. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Changes in Channel Properties

16. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Streamflow Changes from upstream to downstream Factors that decrease downstream – Gradient – Channel roughness

17. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. The Work of Running Water Stream erosion Lifting loosely consolidated particles by: – Abrasion – Dissolution Stronger currents lift particles more effectively.

18. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. The Work of Running Water Transport of sediment by streams Transported material is called the stream’s load. Types of load – Dissolved load – Suspended load – Bed load Capacity is the maximum load a stream can transport.

19. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Stream Transport

20. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. The Work of Running Water Competence Indicates the maximum particle size a stream can transport Determined by the stream’s velocity

21. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. The Work of Running Water Deposition of sediment by a stream Caused by a decrease in velocity – Competence is reduced. – Sediment begins to drop out. Stream sediments – Generally well sorted – Stream sediments are known as alluvium.

22. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. The Work of Running Water Deposition of sediment by a stream Channel deposits – Bars – Braided streams – Deltas Floodplain deposits – Natural levees form parallel to the stream channel by successive floods over many years.

23. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. A Braided River in Alaska

24. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. The Work of Running Water Deposition of sediment by a stream Floodplain deposits – Back swamps – Yazoo tributaries Alluvial fans – Develop where a high-gradient stream leaves a narrow valley – Slope outward in a broad arc

25. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Base Levels and Graded Streams A base level is the lowest point to which a stream can erode. Base levels and graded streams Two general types of base levels: 1.Ultimate (sea level) 2.Local or temporary Changing conditions causes readjustment of stream activities. – Raising base level causes deposition. – Lowering base level causes erosion.

26. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Adjustment of a Base Level to Changing Conditions

27. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Raising base level causes deposition

28. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Running Water Stream valleys The most common landforms on Earth’s surface Two general types of stream valleys: 1.Narrow valleys » V-shaped » Downcutting toward base level » Features often include rapids and waterfalls.

29. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. V-Shaped Valley of the Yellowstone River

30. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Running Water Stream valleys Two general types of stream valleys: 2.Wide valleys » Stream is near base level. » Downward erosion is less dominant. » Stream energy is directed from side to side forming a floodplain.

31. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Side way erosion

32. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Running Water Incised meanders and stream terraces Incised meanders – Meanders in steep, narrow valleys – Caused by a drop in base level or uplift of the region Terraces – Remnants of a former floodplain – River has adjusted to a relative drop in base level by downcutting.

33. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Depositional Landforms Features created by stream deposition Deltas Floodplains – Erosional floodplains – Depositional floodplains Meanders – Cut bank and point bar – Cutoffs and oxbow lakes

34. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Formation of a Delta

35. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Meanders on the White River, Arkansas

36. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Incised Meanders Colorado River, Canyonlands NP, UT

37. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Oxbow Lakes on the Green River, Wyoming

38. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Depositional Landforms Features created by stream deposition Natural levees Alluvial fans

39. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Natural Levees

40. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Alluvial Fan in Death Valley, California

41. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Running Water Drainage pattern Pattern of the interconnected network of streams in an area Common drainage patterns – Dendritic – Radial – Rectangular – Trellis

42. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Drainage Patterns

43. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Drainage Patterns Headward erosion and stream piracy A stream can lengthen its course by either: – Building a delta – Headward erosion Headward erosion may result in stream piracy, which is the diversion of the drainage of one stream into another.

44. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Floods and Flood Control Floods and flood control Floods are the most common and most destructive geologic hazard. Causes of flooding – Result from naturally occurring and human- induced factors

45. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Floods and Flood Control Floods and flood control Types of floods – Regional floods – Flash floods – Ice-jam floods – Dam-failure floods

46. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Flooding, Salt River, AZ

47. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Floods and Flood Control Floods and flood control Flood control – Engineering efforts » Artificial levees » Flood-control dams » Channelization – Nonstructural approach through sound floodplain management

48. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. End of Chapter 16