River Systems

I. Water Distribution

1.36 billion cubic km of water

97.2% oceans

2.15% glacial ice

0.65% lakes, streams, ground water

II. The Hydrologic Cycle

1) Precipitation

The Hydrologic Cycle

2) Evaporation-Transpiration

The Hydrologic Cycle

3) Infiltration

The Hydrologic Cycle

4) Runoff

The Hydrologic Cycle

5) Runoff

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

ET

R

I

% precipitation

Red

James

III. Stream Flow

A. Terms

III. Stream Flow

A. Terms1. Laminar vs. Turbulent

III. Stream Flow

A. Terms1. Laminar vs. Turbulent

III. Stream Flow

A. Terms2. Velocity, Area, Discharge

Water Velocity

Area

Discharge

Discharge

Discharge = Velocity x Area

Discharge

Discharge = Velocity x AreaQ = V x A

III. Stream Flow

A. Terms3. Gradient

III. Stream Flow

A. Terms3. Gradient

Rise = Vertical drop of the stream

Run Horizontal Distance

Rise = Vertical drop of the stream

Run Horizontal Distance

III. Stream Flow

B. Downstream Trends1. gradient

2. width and depth

3. discharge

4. velocity

III. Stream Flow

B. Downstream Trends a. gradient

b. width and depth

c. discharge

d. velocity

III. Stream Flow

B. Downstream Trends a. gradient

b. width and depth c. discharge

d. velocity

III. Stream Flow

B. Downstream Trends a. gradient

b. width and depth c. discharge d. velocity

III. Stream Flow

B. Downstream Trendsa. gradient b. width and depth c. discharge d. velocity

III. Work of Running WaterA. Erosion

III. Work of Running Water

A. Erosion1) Sheet flow

III. Work of Running Water

A. Erosion

1) Sheet flow2) Rill flow

3) Stream (gully) flow

III. Work of Running WaterB. Transportation

1) dissolved load

B. Transportation1) dissolved load2) suspended load

B. Transportation1) dissolved load2) suspended load3) bedload

Bed load – – Rolling

– Sliding

– Saltation

Saltation

IV. Features of Streams

IV. Features of Streams

A) Waterfalls and Rapids

IV. Features of Streams

B) Meanders

Pointbars

Cutbanks

IV. Features of Streams

C) Pointbars

IV. Features of Streams

D) Cutbanks

IV. Features of Streams

IV. Features of Streams

E. Oxbow lakes

IV. Features of Streams

E) Oxbow lakes

IV. Features of Streams

• Oxbow lakes (Cont’d)

IV. Features of Streams

• Oxbow lakes (Cont’d)

IV. Features of StreamsF) Braided Streams

•

G) Natural Levees

IV. Features of StreamsH) Deltas

H) Deltas

IV. Features of StreamsI) Floodplains and Terraces

V. “Other Topics”A) Drainage Patterns

1. dendritic

V. “Other Topics”A) Drainage Patterns

1. dendritic 2. radial

V. “Other Topics”A) Drainage Patterns

1. dendritic 2. radial

3. rectangular

V. “Other Topics”A) Drainage Patterns

1. dendritic 2. radial

3. rectangular

4. trellis

V. “Other Topics”A) Drainage Patterns

5. Deranged Drainage

V. “Other Topics”A) Drainage Patterns

5. Deranged Drainage

V. “Other Topics”B) Stream Piracy

Stream Piracy

Stream Piracy

V. “Other Topics”B) Stream Piracy

C) Channelization

Channelization

Channelization

Channelization

Channelization

Channelization

Rise = vertical dropRun horizontal distance

Channelization

Channelization

Channelization

Channelization

Channelization

V. “Other Topics”B) Stream Piracy

C) Channelization

D) Flood hydrograph

HydrographA. General

HydrographA. GeneralB. Storm Hydrograph