Term
| What does the term “stream” mean to a geologist? |
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Definition
| Channelized flow at the surface. |
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Term
| Know how the mouth, head, and base level of a stream are spatially related to the stream’s longitudinal profile. |
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Definition
Head: top, steep
Mouth: bottom, more level |
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Term
| Know what will happen if a portion of the land a stream runs through should rise above, or fall below the longitudinal profile. |
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Definition
Land uplift: creates cliffs (waterfalls) and benches (rapids)
Land Sink: stream will deposit up |
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Term
| Besides vertical movement of the land, why else might a stream have to adjust to a new longitudinal profile? |
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Definition
| Change in the base level. Ex: dam |
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Term
| Know the difference between a young, middle aged, and old aged stream. |
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Definition
Young: straight, steep slopes
Mid aged: curvy, small flood plains
Old: winding/hairpin turns, large flood plains |
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Term
| Be able to identify the following on a diagram: flood plain, cut bank, point bar, oxbow lake, meander scar, yazoo stream/tributary, terrace, and levee. |
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Definition
Flood plain: flat land on either side of the stream
Cut bank: cut by outside current of stream
Point bar: land, opposite cut bank
Oxbow lake: horseshoe shaped lake
Meander scar: dried up oxbow lake
Yazoo stream: small stream in flood plain, runs alongside main stream
Terrace:a step-like landform that borders a stream flood plain
Levee:sediment built up at end caused by flooding and reflooding |
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Term
| Know the definitions of a watershed (drainage basin) and a drainage divide. |
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Definition
Watershed:area of land that deposits water to a stream segment
Drainage divide:high land that separates two watersheds |
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Term
| Know the difference between stream capacity and stream competence. Know what happens to a stream if its sediment load is greater than its capacity. |
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Definition
Stream capacity: total discharge of sediment the stream is transporting
Stream competence: largest sized particle being moved by the stream (bed load)
If sediment load is greater than capacity: flood |
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Term
| What is the name of the sediment feature created by a mountain stream that discharges onto a relatively flat plain? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the name of the sediment feature created by a stream discharging into a larger body of water? |
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Definition
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Term
| Know the definition of, and how to calculate, stream discharge. |
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Definition
Q=wdv
discharge=width times average depth times average velocity |
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Term
| Know what a hydrograph is. Know what is plotted on the x-axis and what is plotted on the y-axis. |
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Definition
x axis: time
y axis: discharge |
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Term
| Know the definition of stream stage, and what a graph relating stage to discharge is called. |
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Definition
height of the stream
Rating Curve relates stage to discharge |
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Term
| Know what is meant by flood probability and flood recurrence interval. Understand the statistical nature of these two things. |
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Definition
Flood probability:p=1/R
Flood recurrence interval:R=(n+1)/m |
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Term
| Know how a change in any of the other parameters of the hydrologic cycle can affect flooding (by increasing or decreasing stream runoff). |
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Definition
| A decrease in I and ET forces an increase in R |
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Term
| What was the name of the lake that emptied to create the channeled scablands and when did it empty? |
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Definition
Glacial Lake Missoula
Emptied 17,000 years ago |
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