GEOL107 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Stream Gradient, Dissolved Load, Suspended Load

• School: University of Delaware
• Department: Geology
• Course: GEOL107
• Professor: Dr.Madsen

Document Summary

Evaporation water changing from liquid to gas (water vapor) driven by heat from sun. Condensation water changing from gas to liquid driven by water vapor moving up in earth"s lower most atmospheric layer (troposphere) and being cooled. Precipitation: condensed water vapor in troposphere falling back to earth"s surface as rain/snow. Surface runoff water flowing on land surface downhill to oceans. Equilibrium exists between land/ocean (more evaporation vs. more precipitation) Watershed (drainage basin) area over which if precipitation falls it would be drained by rivers in that basin drainage divide separates watersheds. Longitudinal profile plot of elevation of a river from head (source) to mouth (end) A gradient is a change in elevation as a function of distance from head to mouth. A higher (steeper) gradient will result in a faster river/stream velocity. A high gradient is more important near the head of a river or stream.