Stream Drainage Patterns

Stream DrainagePatterns

Start by reading the first page of

the notes!

THE BEDROCK OF IN AN AREA WILL CAUSE STREAMS TO DRAIN IN A

PATTERN

THAT CAN BE SEEN FROMOVER-HEAD (airplane).THESE ARE CALLED

Mississippi River Delta

C.

Match the geologic structures below

To the drainage patterns they would create.

THIS OCCURS WHEN:

Rock resistance is all similar

• Like the veins in a leaf

• Horizontal rock layers

• Most common

WATER FLOWS DOWN HILLFOLLOWING THE PATH OF

LEAST RESISTANCE

C.

THIS OCCURS IN THE AREA OF A STRUCTURAL DOME

WATER FLOWS IN THE PATH OFLEAST RESISTANCE

with rock layers of variable resistance surrounding the center of the dome

FOLLOWING THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE

STAGES IN LANDSCAPE DEVELOPMENT:

THE MATURITY OF A LANDSCAPE DEPENDS UPON THE PORTION OF THE LAND THAT HAS BEEN WORN DOWN TO OR NEAR

BASE LEVEL (NOT SEA LEVEL)

THE 3 STAGES OF LANDSCAPE MATURITY:

1.MUCH OF THE LAND AT HIGH ELEVATIONS2. STEEP HILL SLOPES3. FAST STREAMS4. DEEP V-SHAPED VALLEYS

1. ROUNDED HILL SLOPES (IF MOIST CLIMATE)

2. STREAM VALLEYS ARE BROAD3. STREAMS BEGIN TO MEANDER

1. MOSTLY ERODED TO BASE LEVEL2. STREAMS HAVE LOW SLOPE (GRADIENT)

3. STREAMS MOVE SLOW & MEANDER4. FERTILE AND THICK SOIL HORIZON A

CAN CAUSE OLD LANDSCAPES TO

BEREJUVINATED

BACK TOYOUNG AGAIN

UPLIFT

ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND CONSERVATION CAN HELP TO PRESERVE OUR

SOIL,WATER,AND AIR

Notice how the rock types

weather differently

Which rock is least resistant?

shale

Differences in rock resistance creates varied

and interesting landscapes.

THE INFLUENCE OF CLIMATE ON LANDSCAPE:

Humid (moist) Arrid (dry)Slope

Soil

Type ofWeathering

gentleFertileThick A layerChemical due to

Increased amount Of moisture

steep

rockyPhysical due to

abrasion