Geomorphology Flashcards
(40 cards)
Catchment area
A whole drainage basin as well as the source area of water on the surface and underground
River system
The main river and all its tributaries
River mouth
The area where a ride enters the sea or a lake
Watershed
High-lying areas that separate one drainage basin from another
Source
The starting point of a river
Tributary
A small river that flows into the main river
Confluence
The point where two rivers meet
Water table
The upper level of groundwater
Surface run-off
All water that moves across the surface of a drainage basin
Groundwater
Water that has infiltrated the surface and moved downwards due to gravity
Permanent river
A river that continues and contains water all year round
Periodic river
A river that only receives water and flows during the rainy season or for part of the year
Episodic river
A river that only flows very occasionally, only after heavy rains
Exotic river
A river that has its source in a rainy area and flows through a very dry area
Drainage pattern
The way in which a river system is shaped by relief and appears on the ground
Dendritic pattern
Looks like a trunk and branches of a tree with tributaries joining at ACUTE angles
Trellis pattern
Short tributaries that join the river in right angles
Rectangular pattern
Rivers have right angle bends and tributaries join at right angles
Radial centrifugal pattern
River flows away from a central high point such as a dome or volcano
Radial centripetal pattern
River flows into a central basin or depression
Deranged pattern
River appears to have no specific pattern
Parallel pattern
Tributaries flow almost parallel to each other
Stream order
A measure of a river systems branching pattern and the number of tributaries. It is used to compare different river systems
Discharge of a river
The amount of water flowing in a river system measured in cubic meters per second
