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