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Chapter 11
Fresh Water: Streams, Lakes, Ground Water, and Wetlands
28
Geology
Undergraduate 1
10/13/2009

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Term

Hydrologic Cycle

Definition
The constant circulation of water amoug the se, the atmospherem and the land
Term

Runoff

Definition
water that flows back to the oceans in surface streams
Term

Ground Water

Definition
water contained in soil and bedrock. all surface water
Term

Transpiration

Definition
direct evaporation from the leaf surfaces of plants
Term

Stream

Definition
a moving body of water confined in a channel and flowing downslope
Term

Tributary

Definition
any stream that contributes water to another stream
Term

Gradient

Definition
the verticle drop of a stream over a specific distance
Term

Discharge

Definition
the volume of water flowing downstream per unit time. It is measured in unitit of cubic meters per second (m3/ sec)
Term

Channel Characteristics

Definition
channel characteristics refer to the shape and roughness of a stream channel
Term

Bed

Definition
the floor of a stream channel
Term

Bank

Definition
the rising slope bordering the side of a stream channel
Term

Competence

Definition
a measure of the largest particles that a stream can transport
Term

Capacity

Definition
the maximum quantity of sediment that a stream can carry
Term

Dissolved Load

Definition
the portion of a stream's sediment load that is carried in solution
Term

Suspended Load

Definition
the portion of a stream's load that is carried for a considerable time in suspension, free from contact with the streambed
Term

Bed Load

Definition
the portion of a stream's load that is transported on or immediately above the streambed
Term

Downcutting

Definition
downward erosion by a stream
Term

Base Level

Definition
the deepest level to which a sream can erode its bed. the ultimate base level is usually sea level, but this is seldom attained
Term

Graded Stream

Definition
a stream with a smooth, concave profile. A graded stream is in equilibrium with its sediment supply; it transports all the sediment supplied to it with neither erosion nor deposition in the streambed
Term

Lateral Erosion

Definition
the action of a stream as it cuts into and erodes its banks.
Term

Meander

Definition
one of a series of sinuous curves or loops in the course of a stream
Term

Point Bar

Definition
a stream deposit located on the inside of a growing meander
Term

Oxbow Lake

Definition
a cresent-shaped lake formed whre a meander is cut off from a stream and the ends of the cut-off meander become plugged with sediment
Term

Braided Stream

Definition
a stream that divides into a network of branching and reuniting shallow channels separated by midchannel bars
Term

Drainage Basin

Definition
the region that is ultimately drained by a single river
Term

Alluvial Fan

Definition
a fan-like accumulation of sediment created where a steep streamslows down rapidly as it reaches a relatively flat valley floor
Term

Delta

Definition
the nearly flat, alluvial, fan-shaped tract of land at the mouth of a steam
Term

Distributary

Definition
a channel that flows outward from the main stream channel, such as is commonly found in deltas
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