Flora and Fauna

 SWISH! SWOOSH! That's a fast river! Image: Form TripAdvisor The two main functions of a river is to transport water and sediments . It is important to understand how the shape of a channel can influence how efficiently a river carries out its functions. Types of Flow Laminar Laminar flow is a horizontal movement of water. It is rarely experienced in rivers. However if it did exist in a river channel, it would travel over the sediments of the channel without disturbing it.  Turbulent Turbulent flow is the dominant flow seen in rivers. It consists of erratic eddies, which moves both vertically and horizontally downstream.  N.B: Turbulence varies with the velocity of a river, which also relies on the amount of energy available after friction.  Influence of Velocity on Turbulence HIGH VELOCITY : If the velocity of a river is high , so will be the amount of energy available after overcoming friction, therefore increasing turbulence . The sediments on the bed will then...

 Inputs, Outputs, Transfers, Storage...Woahhh Characteristics of the Drainage Basin Inputs : in the form of precipitation and snow Outputs : this is where water is lost from the system, either through being carried to sea (by rivers) or through evapotranspiration.  Within the system some water is: Stored : In rivers, soil, vegetation. Transferred : Infiltration, through-flow etc.  Key:    INPUT             STORAGE             TRANSFERS             OUTPUTS Precipitation This term refers to the act of water/moisture (in its solid or liquid form) falling from clouds in the sky.  Examples include: Rain, hail and snow.  Influencing Factors: Presence of Vegetation  Time of Year Altitude  Latitudinal Location Evaporation This is the process by which the suns energy converts water into water vapour. Influencing Factors: Atmospheric ...

 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...

 Woah, WAIT, is that... EARTHQUAKE!!! Image: From Tappity What is an Earthquake?  An earthquake is a series of shocks, seismic waves or tremors that result from a sudden release of pressure.  Focus : Point below the surface where seismic waves radiate from the source/origin  Epicentre : The point on the surface immediately above the focus of the earthquake, this is where the most damage can be noted.  Causes of Earthquake Activity: Physically Induced: Tectonic plates moving against each other or where there is volcanic activity Human Induced: Mining, drilling to the earth, underground explosions N.B: These contribute to the inducing of earthquakes as the create shock waves which cause changes (pressure changes) in the rock strata.   Types of Earthquake Waves:  Two types of seismic waves can occur, following the event of an earthquake.  1. Body Waves : Shock waves that are transmitted upwards to the surface from the focus. It can be divided into: P...

 Rivers, Rivers, Rivers, DRAINAGE BASIN Image: From Quora What is a Drainage Basin? A drainage basin can be described as an area of land drained by a river and it's tributaries.  A well developed drainage basin consists of:  Spring : The point from which water flows from with earth's surface.  Source : The point where a rivers begins Mouth : The point at which a river ends (and meets a larger body of water, usually an ocean or sea) Stream : Also can be called a consequent stream, this a body a fresh water, flowing through s channel Tributary : Also can be called a subsequent stream, this is a smaller river that joins the consequent stream Deferred Junction : This is where a tributary flows parallel to a consequent stream before joining it.  Distributary : Smaller rivers located at the mouth that flow away from the consequent stream (usually towards a large body of water)  Watershed : An area of highland that separates one drainage basin from another.