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