1. Streams and Rivers

2. Streams and Rivers Definitions
Tributary: A stream that runs into another stream or river
River System: A river and all of its tributaries
Watershed: includes all of the land that drains into the river
Tributary: A stream that runs into another stream or river
River System: A river and all of its tributaries
Watershed: includes all of the land that drains into the river

3. Floodplain: a nearly flat area along a stream or river that is naturally subject to flooding.

4. Streams and Rivers Continued
Oxbow: a bow-shaped bend in a river
Oxbow Lake: a bow-shaped lake formed in a former channel of a river.
Floodplain: a nearly flat area along a stream or river that is naturally subject to flooding.
Oxbow: a bow-shaped bend in a river
Oxbow Lake: a bow-shaped lake formed in a former channel of a river.

5. Deltas
Delta: a nearly flat plain of alluvial deposit between diverging branches of the mouth of a river, often triangular
Alluvial Deposit: clay, silt or gravel carried by rushing streams and deposited where the stream slows down 

7. Characteristics of Streams and Rivers
Meander: to take a winding or indirect course
Velocity: The distance that water travels in a given amount of time.
Gradient: The slope of a stream
(vertical distance/horizontal distance)
Meander: to take a winding or indirect course
Velocity: The distance that water travels in a given amount of time. A fast moving river can erode material more quickly and can carry larger particles
Gradient: The slope of a stream- the steeper the slope, the faster the river, the more it can carry

8. Rivers with Many Meanders

9. Formation of a Cutoff and Oxbow Lake

10. Characteristics Continued
Discharge: the volume of water that passes a certain point in a given amount of time
Channel: The path through which the water flows. The size and shape effects the velocity- the more sources of friction the slower the river travels
Discharge: the volume of water that passes a certain point in a given amount of time
Channel: The path through which the water flows. The size and shape effects the velocity- shallow, winding streams with many boulders has a great deal of friction to slow it down (slowest river scenario)

11. Diagram

12. Water Velocity
Streams flow fastest in the middle, just below the surface
The surface is slower because air provides a little friction
The bottom is slower because the ground provides friction
The sides are slower because the edge/shore provides friction

14. From Above From Within X marks the area of highest velocity

15. ESRT (pg 6)

16. Most youthful river valleys are V-shaped
V-Shaped Valleys
Most youthful river valleys are V-shaped
V-shaped valleys are found in regions where there is enough rain to erode the sides of the valley

17. The Yellowstone River Is an Example of a V-Shaped Valley

18. Visualizations
How Sediment is Transported
Meanderings

20. Erosion occurs on the outside of the bends where the water is moving the fastest
Deposition occurs on the inside of the bends where the water is moving the slowest

22. Erosion by Wind
When small, loose sediments like sand are available, erosion by wind is possible
Arid regions are the most common places for wind erosion to take place

23. Ventifacts: wedge-shaped rocks formed by wind erosion, often pitted.

24. Sand dunes are hills of sand deposited by wind
Found wherever there are strong winds and loose sand
Have long, gentle slope on windward side
Have shorter, steep slope on leeward side