Glossary of Stream Erosion and Geomorphology Terms, Quizzes of Geography

Download Glossary of Stream Erosion and Geomorphology Terms and more Quizzes Geography in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 rill DEFINITION 1 A small channel in the soil or regolith caused by erosion from heavy rain. TERM 2 gully DEFINITION 2 A deep V shaped trench carved by overland flow and/or headward growth of a small stream during advanced stages of accelerated soil erosion. TERM 3 hydraulic action DEFINITION 3 Stream erosion by the force of impact of flowing water upon the bed and banks of the stream channel. TERM 4 abrasion DEFINITION 4 The erosion of bedrock of a stream channel by impact of particles carried in a stream and by rolling of larger rock fragments over the stream bed; also caused by glaciers, waves, and wind. TERM 5 corrosion DEFINITION 5 The erosion of bedrock of a stream channel by chemical reactions between solutions in stream water and mineral surfaces. TERM 6 stream load DEFINITION 6 The solid matter carried by a stream in dissolved form, in suspension, and as bed load. TERM 7 stream capacity DEFINITION 7 The maximum stream load of solid matter that can be carried by a stream for a given discharge. TERM 8 alluvium DEFINITION 8 Sediment laid by a stream that is found in a stream channel or in low parts of a stream valley subject to flooding. TERM 9 graded stream DEFINITION 9 A stream with a gradient adjusted to carry its average sediment load. TERM 10 meanders DEFINITION 10 The sinuous bends of a graded stream flowing in the alluvial deposit of a floodplain. TERM 21 point bar DEFINITION 21 Sediment accumulation on the inside of a meandering stream bend, where flow is slower. TERM 22 ox-bow lake DEFINITION 22 A crescent shaped lake representing the abandoned channel left by the cutoff of a meander. TERM 23 natural levee DEFINITION 23 The belt of higher ground paralleling a meandering river on both sides of a stream channel and built up by deposition of sediment during flooding. TERM 24 braided stream DEFINITION 24 Form in streams with large fluctuations in discharge. TERM 25 aggradation DEFINITION 25 The raising of stream channel altitude by continued deposition of bed load. TERM 26 badlands DEFINITION 26 Where clay is exposed at the surface, erosion is very rapid, and unstable slopes. TERM 27 playa DEFINITION 27 A flat land surface underlain by fine sediment or evaporate minerals deposited from shallow lake waters in a dry climate in the floor of aclosed topographic depression. TERM 28 alluvial fan DEFINITION 28 A gently sloping, conical accumulation of alluvium deposited by a stream emerging from a rock gorge or rock notch. TERM 29 distributaries DEFINITION 29 When a stream breaks into a few smaller channels that spread the water and sediment over the fan surface. TERM 30 delta DEFINITION 30 A sediment deposit built by a stream entering a body of standing water.