River MORPHOLOGY

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 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:


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