River MORPHOLOGY

 Yes, the shape of rivers is important in understanding aspects of hydrology. Lets look at it. 

Image: From Seneca College Pressbooks

What is Morphometry?

• Morpho- Shape
• Metry- Size 

Morphometry refers to the shape, size and form of rivers in a drainage basin. This allows us to make objective comparisons on the similarities and differences of a drainage basin:

• Establish a stream hierarchy

• Law of stream order: the relationship between stream order and stream number

Stream Ordering 

• First Order- initial tributaries (no prior connections) 

• Second Order- a stream joined by two first order streams 

• Third Order- a stream joined by two second order streams  

Law of Stream Order 

Two stream segments of an equal order, will create a segment of a higher order. However the order of a stream will remain the same if a lower order segment joins a higher order segment. 

Bifurcation Ratio

This is the relationship between the number of streams in one order to one that is of a higher order. 

Significance:

• Indicates flood risks for all or certain parts of the drainage basin

• The lower the ratio, the the lower the flood risk within the basin

Formula:

Step 1:

Step 2: Find the mean of all the ratios 

Drainage Density

Formula: