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Limnology > Streams and Rivers > Flashcards

Streams and Rivers Flashcards

1
Q

These river scientists study rivers and their channels - form and behavior

A

Geomorphologists

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2
Q

These river scientists study precipitation, groundwater, surface flow and connections

A

Hydrologists

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3
Q

These river scientists study how physical processes influence organisms and influence each other

A

Ecologists

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4
Q

Are there standard distinctions between rivers, streams, brooks and creeks?

A

No

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5
Q

These rivers, including the Amazon, Mississippi and Mekong, are in a class of their own

A

Great rivers

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6
Q

What shape are streams and rivers?

A

Dendritic

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7
Q

The smallest permanently flowing stream is called this

A

First order stream

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8
Q

When two first order streams meet, they produce this

A

Second order stream

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9
Q

1 stream + 1 stream = ?

A

2 stream

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10
Q

1 stream + 2 stream = ?

A

2 stream

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11
Q

2 stream + 2 stream = ?

A

3 stream

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12
Q

3 stream + 2 stream = ?

A

3 stream

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13
Q

3 stream + 3 stream = ?

A

4 stream

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14
Q

3 stream + 4 stream = ?

A

4 stream

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15
Q

4 stream + 4 stream = ?

A

5 stream

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16
Q

Stream order only increases when this happens

A

When 2 like streams come together

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17
Q

This part of the stream includes the source

A

Headwaters

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18
Q

This part of a stream is where the stream flows into a larger body of water

A

Mouth

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19
Q

This part of the stream is the main stream channel

A

Trunk stream

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20
Q

This part of a stream is the area of the stream between the headwaters and the mouth

A

Longitudinal profile

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21
Q

This is a channel with flowing water at least part of the year

A

Stream channel

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22
Q

This is a variable area on the sides of the stream channel that is inundated by floodwaters at some interval

A

Floodplain

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23
Q

This is the portion of upland that serves as a transitional zone between the floodplain and the surrounding landscape

A

Transitional upland fringe

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24
Q

This is a section of a river with multiple pools and riffles

A

Reach

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25
Q

How long should a stream reach be in relation to a stream?

A

20x the width

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26
Q

These are deep, slow-moving sections of a stream

A

Pools

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27
Q

Pools drop this, causing riffles

A

Sediment

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28
Q

These are parts of a stream where water moves turbulently over substrate

A

Riffles

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29
Q

Riffles cause pools by digging out this

A

Sediment

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30
Q

This is formed by piled up sediment dropped by water as velocity slows near stream pools

A

Point bar

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31
Q

This is an imaginary line tracing the deepest/fastest parts of a stream

A

Thalweg

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32
Q

This is an outside vertical bank of a curve in a river produced by erosion from the thalweg or water movement

A

Cut bank

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33
Q

This is the ability of a stream to curve or bend flexibly

A

Sinuosity

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34
Q

What is the equation for sinuosity?

A

River distance from A to B / Straight distance from A to B

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35
Q

Above what level of sinuosity is a stream considered meandering?

A

> 1.5

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36
Q

A cut-off stream meander forms this

A

Oxbow lake

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37
Q

What are four characteristics of a floodplain in phase 1 of development?

A
  1. High topographic areas; 2. Downcutting and erosion; 3. Rapids & waterfalls; 4. Steep gradients
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38
Q

What are three characteristics of a floodplain in phase 2 of development?

A
  1. Floodplain is cut; 2. Velocity decreases; 3. Gradient decreases vertically
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39
Q

What are three characteristics of a floodplain in phase 3 of development?

A
  1. Wider valley; 2. Lateral migration in sediment/meanders; 3. Gradient decreases further
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40
Q

What characterizes a fully developed floodplain (phase 4)?

A

Flat valley floor cut out by stream meander

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41
Q

This is made up of direct precipitation falling on stream channel or channel interception and the lateral movement of water from land to channel

A

Streamflow or discharge

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42
Q

What are the two components of streamflow?

A

Stormflow and baseflow

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43
Q

This is the water that enters a stream in a short period after a precipitation event

A

Stormflow

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44
Q

What are two components of stormflow?

A

Subsurface runoff and surface runoff

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45
Q

This is water that percolates into the ground water moving into the stream channel at a slow rate, sustaining streamflow during periods of little or no precipitation

A

Baseflow

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46
Q

This shows how long a stream takes to rise from baseflow to maximum discharge then return

A

Hydrograph

47
Q

What are two parts of a hydrograph?

A

Rising limb and recession limb

48
Q

This occurs when the river reaches its highest level

A

Peak discharge

49
Q

This is the time difference between the peak of a rain event and the peak discharge

A

Lag time or basin lag

50
Q

Stormflow is the sum of what four processes?

A
  1. Channel interception; 2. Overland flow; 3. Subsurface flow; 4. Baseflow
51
Q

What is the effect of urbanization/impervious surfaces on peak discharge?

A

Increase in peak discharge

52
Q

What is the effect of urbanization/impervious surfaces on baseflow?

A

Decrease in baseflow

53
Q

What is the effect of urbanization/impervious surfaces on lag?

A

Reduction in lag

54
Q

What is the equation for stream discharge?

A

Q=VA

55
Q

What are used to measure stream discharge?

A

Precalibrated weirs/flumes

56
Q

The height of a stream is measured with this

A

Gaging station

57
Q

This establishes the relationship between gage height and streamflow (Q)

A

Rating curve

58
Q

Is the relationship of streamflow to gage height linear or nonlinear?

A

Nonlinear

59
Q

This is the most widely used method for stormflow analysis

A

Unit hydrograph theory

60
Q

What does the unit hydrograph theory propose?

A

A standard measurement that estimates stormflow resulting from 1 unit of effective (excess) precipitation over a time and over a specified area

61
Q

What are four problems with the unit hydrograph theory?

A
  1. Unreliable methods; 2. Unit hydrographs are particular to each watershed and change with changes in the watershed; 3. Lack of previous information about extreme events in some places; 4. Assumption of linear behavior
62
Q

This discharge occurs when water just begins to leave the channel and spread onto the floodplain

A

Bankfull discharge

63
Q

Bankfull discharge is more often than not is the same as this discharge

A

Channel-forming discharge

64
Q

At bankfull discharge, stage height slows while this goes up

A

Discharge

65
Q

How many times per year does bankfull discharge normally occur?

A

1-2 times per year

66
Q

Bankfull varies depending on this

A

Channel shape

67
Q

Are streams always connected to ground water?

A

No

68
Q

What are the two ways streams can be connected to ground water?

A

Effluent and influent

69
Q

These streams are also known as ‘gaining streams’ and tend to be in moister climates where they get their water from groundwater sources

A

Effluent streams

70
Q

These streams are also known as ‘losing streams’ and tend to be in drier climates, where they lose their water downstream as it soaks into the ground

A

Influent streams

71
Q

Streams with this substrate have a good connection to ground water

A

Gravel/alluvium

72
Q

Streams where this is present do not have a good connection to ground water

A

Non-water bearing bedrock

73
Q

What is a source of streamflow for influent streams?

A

Overland flow

74
Q

What are the three types of streams based on timing of stormflow and baseflow?

A
  1. Ephemeral streams; 2. Intermittent streams; 3. Perennial streams
75
Q

These streams only flow during or immediately after periods of precipitation

A

Ephemeral streams

76
Q

What is the maximum amount of days that ephemeral streams have flow?

A

30 days

77
Q

What is ephemeral streamflow primarily composed of?

A

Runoff from adjacent uplands

78
Q

Do ephemeral streams have any streamflow contribution from baseflow?

A

No

79
Q

This type of stream flows only during certain times of the year

A

Intermittent streams

80
Q

How long does seasonal flow last in intermittent streams?

A

> 30 days/year

81
Q

What are three sources of streamflow for intermittent streams?

A
  1. Runoff from adjacent uplands; 2. Contributions from tributaries; 3. Ground water (to a small extent)
82
Q

This type of stream flows continuously during both wet and dry seasons

A

Perennial streams

83
Q

Perennial stream baseflow is dependably generated from this

A

Ground water

84
Q

What are three sources of streamflow for perennial streams?

A
  1. Baseflow; 2. Tributaries; 3. Runoff from adjacent uplands (to a smaller degree)
85
Q

Are ephemeral streams protected by the Clean Water Act?

A

No

86
Q

Are intermittent streams protected by the Clean Water Act?

A

Yes (in some cases)

87
Q

What percent of public drinking water comes from intermittent, ephemeral or headwater streams?

A

58%

88
Q

What are five classifications of streams based on channel shape?

A
  1. Meandering; 2. Contained; 3. Anastomosing; 4. Braided; 5. Straight
89
Q

This type of river has a single channel, fine sediments, large alluvial plains and low slopes

A

Meandering river

90
Q

Meandering rivers change course on this timescale

A

Decadal scale

91
Q

This type of river flows over bedrock or through valleys, has little or no floodplain, and can have dangerous, scouring floods

A

Constrained/constricted river

92
Q

This type of river has multiple semi-permanent channels, lower discharge, lower slope, finer sediments, and deep channels with stable banks and spaces between channels

A

Anastomosing river

93
Q

On what timescale do anastomosing river channels change?

A

Century/multidecadal scale

94
Q

This type of river has many temporary channels, changes course daily, has steep and high discharge, and a large sediment load of gravel/sand

A

Braided river

95
Q

Why are braided rivers not a preferred habitat for aquatic organisms?

A

Braided rivers are a harsh environment with little habitat predictability

96
Q

This type of river made by human activity such as channelizing

A

Straight river

97
Q

This is a vegetated area near a stream that links aquatic and terrestrial systems

A

Riparian zone

98
Q

What is another name for riparian zone?

A

Buffer strip

99
Q

What are the three layers of vegetation that occur near a healthy riparian zone?

A
  1. Tall trees; 2. Shorter trees and shrubs; 3. Flowering plants and ferns
100
Q

This ideal riparian zone system was described by Welsch in 1991

A

Three Zone System

101
Q

In this zone of the three zone system, large native trees provide shade and bank stabilization

A

Zone 1 Undisturbed Forest

102
Q

In this zone of the three zone system, native shrubs provide habitat for wildlife and absorb contaminants

A

Zone 2 Managed Forest

103
Q

This zone of the three zone system is the first line of defense against contaminants, slows water runoff, and contains mostly native grasses

A

Zone 3 Runoff Control

104
Q

In this zone of the three zone system, fallen limbs, trees and tree roots slow water flow, reduce erosion and increase habitat and cover for aquatic species

A

Streambed zone

105
Q

What are four factors that affect the size of the riparian zone?

A
  1. Stream size; 2. Position of stream in drainage network; 3. Hydrologic regime; 4. Geomorphology
106
Q

What are four types of riparian plants?

A
  1. Invaders; 2. Endurers; 3. Resistors; 4. Avoiders
107
Q

These riparian plants propagate in the alluvial surface of the riparian zone

A

Invaders

108
Q

These riparian plants resprout after events in the riparian zone

A

Endurers

109
Q

These riparian plants withstand changes in the riparian zone

A

Resistors

110
Q

These riparian plants lack adaptations to riparian zones

A

Avoiders

111
Q

What are five functions of riparian zones?

A
  1. Filter pollutants; 2. Prevent erosion; 3. Supply shade/moderate temperature; 4. Provide habitat; 5. Provide food
112
Q

What are four ways riparian zones can improve water quality?

A
  1. Intercepting sediment/nutrients; 2. Intercepting pesticides; 3. Decreasing runoff; 4. Bank stabilization
113
Q

What percentage of sediment can be removed by a 20m riparian zone?

A

80-90%

114
Q
A

Limnology (12 decks)

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