10.6H| Exercise: Interpreting Stream Behavior

In the previous exercise, you learned how to apply this relationship, the more gentle the gradient of a stream channel, the greater the sinuosity of a stream channel. In this exercise, we will consider another relationship, the ratio between stream valley width and channel width and the gradient of the stream channel. In particular, the greater the valley width/channel width ratio, the lower the gradient. This, in turn, allows us to predict the sinuosity and the type of erosion: more sinuosity means more lateral erosion. 

Instructions

After watching and listening, considering the lecture, completing the assigned lecture reading, and familiarizing yourself with stream-related landform features, you should be able to complete this exercise. You have two attempts and no time limit.  

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Time Needed

About 15 minutes. 

Learning Objectives

• Identify and interpret geologic features from topographic maps
• Identify stream-related landforms and make interpretations of geologic processes
• Compare and contrast the physical characteristics of the three types of stream channels and locate each along a typical stream profile
• Calculate sinuosity and gradient and describe the relationship between the two