Problem 11 Differentiate between stream com... [FREE SOLUTION]

Chapter 14: Problem 11

Differentiate between stream competence and stream capacity.

Short Answer

Expert verified

Stream competence refers to the maximum size of the particles a stream can transport (including large boulders), whereas stream capacity refers to the total amount of sediment (including both large and fine particles) that a stream is capable of carrying. In essence, competence tends to deal with 'size' of carried material, while capacity deals with 'total amount' of transported sediment, irrespective of size.

Step by step solution

Define Stream Competence

Stream competence refers to the measurement of the maximum size of the particles that the stream can transport. This includes large materials such as rocks and boulders that the stream can carry with its flow.

Define Stream Capacity

Stream capacity, on the other hand, is the total amount of the sediment a stream can transport. This includes both the coarse material (like rocks) and finer elements (like sand and silt). The greater the capacity, the more sediment a stream can carry.

Highlighting Differences

Comparing competence and capacity, one could say that the primary difference lies in what they measure - competence represents the 'size' of the materials a stream can carry, while capacity deals with the 'total amount' of sediment it can transport, regardless of size.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Stream Competence

Stream competence is an important concept in fluvial geomorphology. It describes the maximum particle size that a flowing body of water, such as a stream or river, can move. Streams with higher energy and velocity have greater competence, allowing them to transport larger particles like cobbles and boulders. Stream competence is influenced by several factors, including:

Water velocity: Faster water currents are more capable of lifting and carrying larger particles.
Channel slope: Steeper terrains increase water speed and, therefore, the stream's ability to move larger materials.
Streambed roughness: A smoother bed decreases resistance, helping to maintain high flow velocities needed for carrying larger particles.

By understanding stream competence, we can predict how a river might change its path or erode its banks as it modifies the landscape by transporting different sized sediments.

Stream Capacity

Stream capacity is a measure of the total quantity of sediment a stream can transport. Unlike stream competence which focuses on particle size, capacity concerns the volume of sediment, irrespective of its size. Factors affecting stream capacity include:

Discharge: The volume of water flowing per unit time is crucial, with higher discharge generally supporting greater sediment transport.
Flood conditions: During flooding, increased water levels can lead to a surge in capacity, allowing streams to carry more sediments.
Sediment supply: Abundant sediment sources near a water body will increase its capacity as more material is available for transportation.

Understanding stream capacity helps in predicting sediment deposition patterns and the potential for altering landscapes, such as forming deltas or alluvial plains.

Sediment Transport

Sediment transport is the movement of solid particles, typically due to water, wind, or ice systems. In streams, sediment transport occurs through bed load, suspended load, and dissolved load:

Bed load: Consists of larger materials like gravel and boulders that roll or bounce along the streambed due to the water's force.
Suspended load: Finer particles such as silt and clay that are carried within the water column. This gives streams their turbid, or muddy, appearance.
Dissolved load: Soluble materials that have dissolved into the water, often carried downstream invisibly.

Weathering, erosion, and transportation rates of sediment affect the shape and features of geographic landscapes. As stream energy changes, the type and quantity of sediment transported will vary, drastically impacting the environment over time.

Physical Geography

Physical geography deals with the natural features and processes of the Earth, including the shape and behavior of landforms such as rivers and streams. It integrates principles from other scientific fields like geology, biology, and atmospheric science to understand how landscapes are formed and altered. Streams and rivers are key components of physical geography. They help to sculpt terrains by transporting sediments, which can lead to the formation of valleys, cliffs, and plains. Important concepts in this context include:

Fluvial Processes: The activities associated with the movement of water and sediments, critical for developing landforms.
Watershed Analysis: Study of drainage basins to understand water flow and sediment transport patterns.
Erosional vs. Depositional Features: Identifying land areas either being worn down by water or built up by sediment deposition.

Recognizing these dynamics enhances our capability to manage natural resources and plan sustainable land use.

91影视

Differentiate between stream competence and stream capacity.

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Define Stream Competence

Define Stream Capacity

Highlighting Differences

Key Concepts

Stream Competence

Stream Capacity

Sediment Transport

Physical Geography

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