Streams transport sediment and dissolved ions formed by weathering and delivered
ID: 637538 • Letter: S
Question
Streams transport sediment and dissolved ions formed by weathering and delivered to the streams by overland flow or ground water within the drainage basin. The amount of particulate sediment that a stream can transport is called the stream’s _____. Stream _______ is a measure of the size of the sediment a stream can transport. Both of these measurements increase with increases in the stream velocity and ______, the volume of water a stream transports past a given point each second (measured in cubic feet per second).
Sediments that are small enough to float in the stream current are measured as a part of a stream’s ______ load. The larger sediments will settle quickly as stream flow velocity decreases. The smaller sediments may remain in suspension until the water velocity is very slow or stagnant.
Ions that are dissolved as ground water slowly moves through strata of rock or sediment then rejoins the stream channel as a base flow are measured as the ______ load of the stream.
Larger sediments that cannot be picked up by the turbulent flow of the stream will be transported as ____ load. These materials are pushed downstream by the force of the stream flow or may roll along the stream bed. When velocity increases, larger rocks and boulders may roll as well while the smaller gravels may actually hop downstream in a process called _____.
Explanation / Answer
1) The amount of particulate matter that stream can transport is called stream capacity.
2) stream competence is a measure of size of the sediments, the stream can transport.
3) streams capacity and stream competence is affected by stream velocity, stream gradient and volume of water.
4) sediments that are small enough to float in the stream current are measured as a part of streams suspended load.
5) ions that are dissolved as ground water slowly moves through the strata of rock or sediment then rejoins the stream as a base flow are measured as the dissolved load.
6) larger sediments that cannot be picked up by terbulent flow of stream will be transported as bed load.
7) When velocity increases, larger rocks and boulders may roll as well while the smaller gravels may actually hop downstream in a process called saltation.