GE Quiz Questions

a drainage divide that separates drainage basins that empty into different bodies of water surrounding a continent is known as

a continental divide

base level refers to

a level below which a stream cannot erode its valley

erosion in which boulder and gravel moving along the channel break apart and as rock and sediment bring and carve stream beds is known AS

abrasion

if the load exceeds and streams capacity, sediment accumulates in the bed in a process called

aggradation

________ is the general term for unconsolidated clay, silt, sand, gravel, and mineral fragments deposited by running water

alluvium

the river with the greatest discharge is the

amazon

maximum velocity in a meandering stream is

at the outer portion of the meander curve

the sediment load consisting of coarse material too large to remain in suspension, moving along the channel bottom via transaction and saltation is the

bed load

bed load is moved by

both saltation and traction, but not suspension

the total possible load a stream can transport is its ________, whereas a stream's ability to move particles of specific size is its ________.

capacity; competence

the main process contributing material in solution in sediment load is

chemical weathering

stream drainage patterns are determined by which of the following

climate, regional steepness and relief, landscape characteristics, and variations in rock resistance

which of the following is used to measure streamflow?

current meter

turbulent flow is likely to be least in

deep, lowland rivers

when a river reaches a base level, its forward velocity rapidly decelerates as it enters a larger body of standing water and a ________ is formed

delta

the ____, tree-like drainage pattern efficiently moves water and sediment through its system due to minimization of the total length of each branch

dendritic

a streams volume of flow per unit of time is its

discharge

channels running through a delta divide into smaller courses that do not reconnect to the main channel. these are known as

distributaries

drainage density is determined by

dividing the total length of all stream channels in the basin by the area of the basin

in most river basins in humid regions, discharge is highest

downstream

______ streams being in moist regions and flow downstream into arid landscapes with high evapotranspiration

exotic

rectangular drainage patterns form primarily as a result of

flow through a faulted and jointed landscape

processes that are related expressly to streams and rivers are termed

fluvial

a ________ stream is one in which the channel slop has adjusted so that stream velocity is just enough to transport the sediment load

graded

the drop in stream elevation per unit distance is known as

gradient

the process whereby streams lengthen their channels upstream is called

headwater erosion

the statistical rating of flood discharge is based on

historical records of discharge during precipitation events

erosion performed by flowing water along is known as

hydraulic action

this graph, showing the effects of urbanization on streamflow over time, is an example of a

hydrograph

the science of water and its global circulation, distribution, and properties is known as

hydrology

a basin in which water leaves via evapotranspiration or subsurface gravitational flow instead of reaching the ocean is said to have

internal drainage

channels with gradual slopes often develop a sinuous form called a ________ pattern

meandering stream

in a straight channel of a given section of channel, the greatest flow velocities are usually

near the surface, near the center

an interruption in a stream's graded profile of equilibrium is called a

nickpoint

an ________ is a meander that becomes isolated from the rest of the river

oxbow lake

____ streams flow year round, fed by snowmelt, rainfall, groundwater, or a combination thereof

perennial

entrenchment of a channel occurs because

rejuvenation occurs due to uplift

in stream formation, surface water initially moves down slope in a thin film called

sheetflow

stream transport involves all fo the following except

sheetflow

the general term for channelized water flow, regardless of size, is

stream

a drainage system that maintains its original course and pattern as it erodes into underlying horizontal bed of different structures than that in which the system is evolved is called

superposed stream

which of the following will favor stream terrace formation

tectonic uplift fo the headwaters

if you live in an area that was flooded by the 100-year flood last year, you can conclude that

there is a 1% chance you could be flooded by the 100-year flood again this year

which of the following is incorrect regarding floodplains

they are characterized by rapids and low waterfalls

which of the following landforms is incorrectly matched with a drainage pattern

topographically disrupted areas - parallel

if a stream originates in a humid region, but subsequently flows through an arid region, discharge is likely highest

upstream

the area of land from which all water in it drains into the same place is known as

watershed

which of the following list of processes are in the correct sequence as to their occurrence in nature

weathering, erosion, transport, deposition

hydraulic action is highest

where flow is turbulent

as the discharge of a stream increases, which of the following also happens

width, depth, and/or velocity increase