Water on the move terms

flood plain

a river deposits fertile soil on either side of its banks during floods

channel

as a moving river drags material along, it cuts a path into the rock

suspended load

moving rivers pick up lighter sediment and carry it along

bed load

moving rivers roll heavy materials along the river botton

sediment

moving water moves soil, particles, rocks and debris - then drops it along the way

runoff

precipitation flows across Earth's surface and back into the ocean

permeable

precipitation soaks into the ground and into rocks that have spaces between grains

delta

rivers deposit sediment in a fan shape as they empty into other bodies of water

velocity

rivers move at different speeds

alluvial fans

runoff carries loose material to the foot of a slope and drops the heaviest sediment first, then caries lighter sediment farther, dropping it in a triangular shape

drainage system

water from high elevations flows in a network of rills, creeks, and streams into a river

impermeable

water funs off rapidly from rocks that have no spaces for water to soak in

drainage basin

water is drained from areas that share a system of channels

meandering

when the river meets an obstacle, it begins to wander from side to side across the food plain