Chapter 15: River Systems and Landforms

___________ separate drainage basins and send flows to the Pacific, the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantics, Hudson Bay, or the Arctic ocean

Continental divides

Some streams may originate in a humid region and subsequently flow through an arid region. Thus, the discharge may decrease with distance, because of high potential evapotranspiration. Such streams are called _____ streams.

Exotic

Since the Amazon River is the largest river in terms of discharge, it also produces a large delta at its mouth. T/F

False

An interruption in a stream's longitudinal profile of equilibrium is called

Nickpoints interupting

A water shed is an open system. T/F

True

Most streams flow into ocean. T/F

True

River discharge usually increases downstream because the area being drained increases. T/F

True

Stream discharge is calculated by multiplying the velocity of the stream by its width and depth for a specific cross section of the channel. T/F

True

although Nile River is the longest river on Earth, it is not the largest river in terms of discharge. T/F

True

cfs is a unit of stream discharge and stands for cubic feet per second. T/F

True

A cutoff on a meandering stream results in the formation of a) an oxbow lake b) a levee c) a point bare d) a terrace

a) an oxbow lake

Watersheds are defined by a) drainage divides b) stream orders c) fluvial units d) none of the above

a) drainage divides

A graph of stream discharge over time for a specific place is called a) hydrograph b) hypsometry c) water table d) none of the above

a) hydrograph

A central peak, such as volcanic mountain, generally produces a _________ drainage pattern. a) radial b) trellis c) parallel d) annular

a) radial

Which of the following does not favor delta formation? a) strong ocean currents b) shallow ocean water along the coast c) a lack of reservoirs upstream d) a large sediment load

a) strong ocean currents

Of the world's largest rivers, which was the greatest discharge? a) congo river b) amazon river c) yangtze river d) missouri-ohio-mississippi river

b) amazon river

The suspended load of stream consists of particles that are a) rolled and bounced along the streambed b) held aloft in the stream flow c) dragged along the stream bed d) dissolved in solution

b) held aloft in the stream flow

Which of the following will favor stream terrace formation? a) a large increase in sediment load b) tectonic uplift of the headwaters c) a rise in sea level d) a decrease in rainfall

b) tectonic uplift of the headwaters

The valley and ridge province is characterized by which drainage pattern? a) dendritic b) trellis c) deranged d) annular

b) trellis

Which of the following is true of the longitudinal profile of most rivers? a) it always changes at a constant rate from the headwater region to the sea b) it is a convex in shape c) it is concave in shape d) it is gentle upstream and steep downstream

c) it is concave in shape

Which of the following is the correct unit for stream discharge? a) light-year b) half-life c) m^3/s d) kg/m^3

c) m^3/s

Steep slopes and some relief generally produce which drainage pattern? a) dendritic b) deranged c) parallel d) annular

c) parallel

Drainage density refers to a) the thickness of the water in the stream b) the number of channels in an area c) ratio of the total length of channels to the area of the basin d) the arrangement of channels in a given area

c) ratio of the total length of channels to the area of the basin

Braided streams are characterized by a) sediment deposition in the channel resulting in the formation of sand and gravel bars and numerous small channels b) a heavy load in relation to discharge c) server erosion of the channel bed d) A and B only

d) A and B only

As a stream velocity decreases, which of the following sizes of sediments will be deposited last? a) gravel b) sand c) silt d) clay

d) clay

The effect of urbanization on a typical stream hydrograph is to a) create a base flow b) increase lag time between storm peak and peak stream discharge c) decrease runoff d) decrease lag time between storm peak and peak stream discharge

d) decrease lag time between storm peak and peak stream discharge

Which of the following stream channel types is likely to develop on gently slopping surfaces composed of rocks or sediments with approximately the same resistance to erosion? a) radial b) annular c) deranged d) dendritic

d) dendritic

The glacial shield regions of Canada have disrupted surface drainage patterns that are called ____ patterns a) erratic b) parallel c) annular d) deranged

d) deranged

Rectangular drainage patterns form primarily as a result of a) differential resistance to erosion b) domal uplift c) flow through anticlinal and synclinal topography d) flow through faulted landscape

d) flow through faulted landscape

Stream transport involves all of the following except a) saltation b) suspension c) traction d) sheet flow

d) sheet flow

Which drainage pattern is produced by folded topography? a) radial b) dendritic c) deranged d) trellis

d) trellis

As the discharge of a stream increases, which of the following also happens? a) stream channel narrow, become shallower, and lose velocity b) the rate of flow decreases c) channel width increases but channel depth decreases d) width, depth, and velocity all increase

d) width, depth and velocity all increase

The two driving forces of fluvial system are

insolation and gravity

some streams do not reach the ocean. water leaves the basin through evaporation or subsurface gravitational flow. such basins are called __________ basins

internal drainage

The length of the individual channels in a dendritic drainage pattern is ________ and this increases energy _________.

minimized; efficiency

The relationship between stage and stream discharge is called __________ curve.

stage- discharge rating