Chapter 16.8 - Drainage Patterns

Rectangular Drainage Pattern

A drainage pattern characterized by numerous right angle bends that develops on jointed or fractured bedrock.

Water Gap

A pass through a ridge or mountain in which a stream flows.

Dendritic Drainage Pattern

A stream system that resembles the pattern of a branching tree.

Antecedent Stream

A stream that continued to down-cut and maintain its original course as an area along its course was uplifted by faulting or folding.

Superposed Stream

A stream that cuts through a ridge lying across its path. The stream established its course on uniform layers at a higher level without regard to underlying structures and subsequently down-cut.

Trellis Drainage Pattern

A system of streams in which nearby parallel tributaries occupy valleys cut in folded strata.

Radial Drainage Pattern

A system of streams running in all directions, away from a central elevated structure, such as a volcano.

Stream Piracy

Diversion of the drainage of one stream that results from the headward erosion of another stream.

Headward Erosion

The extension upslope of the head of a valley due to erosion.