16: Streams and Floods
- Page ID
- 29162
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- Explain the hydrological cycle, its relevance to streams, and describe the residence time of water in these systems.
- Describe what a drainage basin is and explain the origins of the different types of drainage patterns.
- Explain how streams become graded, and how certain geological and anthropogenic changes can result in a stream becoming ungraded.
- Describe the formation of stream terraces.
- Describe the processes that move sediments in streams, and how changes in stream velocity affect the types of sediments that are moved by the stream.
- Explain the origin of natural stream levees.
- Describe the process of stream evolution and the types of environments where one would expect to find straight channel, braided, and meandering streams.
- Describe the annual flow characteristics of typical streams in California and the processes that lead to flooding.
- Describe some of the important historical floods in California.
- Determine the probability of floods of various magnitudes, based on the flood history of a stream.
- Explain some of the steps that we can take to limit damage from flooding.
- 16.1: Streams in the Hydrological Cycle
- This page outlines the hydrological cycle, detailing the movement of water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and infiltration. It highlights that 97% of Earth's water is stored in oceans, with only a small portion as freshwater.
- 16.2: Channel Development and Drainage Basins
- This page covers the formation of stream channels through erosion due to uneven surfaces, detailing processes like downcutting and headward erosion. It discusses the influence of slope gradients and base levels on stream development and erosion patterns, referencing William Davis's cycle of erosion. Additionally, it describes Vancouver's water supply from three drainage basins and various drainage patterns shaped by rock types, crucial for understanding hydrology and landform interactions.
- 16.3: Stream Erosion and Deposition
- This page outlines the factors influencing stream velocity, including channel shape, size, and water depth, which affect erosion and sediment transport. Flow speed varies, being fastest at the surface and center. During floods, discharge rises, enhancing water velocity and sediment transport. Sediments are categorized into bedload, suspended load, and dissolved load. The Hjulström-Sundborg diagram shows the correlation between particle size and flow velocity for various sediment dynamics.
- 16.4: Stream Types
- This page outlines the characteristics and behaviors of different stream types, emphasizing the influence of erosion on their shape. Youthful streams are straight and steep, while those in glaciated valleys may become braided from sediment loads. In wider flood plains, streams tend to meander, leading to oxbow lakes. Additionally, sediment deposition at stream mouths results in the formation of deltas, such as the Fraser River delta.
- 16.5: Flooding
- This page explains the causes and predictions of floods, emphasizing the importance of monitoring stream behavior and discharge using gauges. It covers significant Canadian flooding events, like the 1948 Fraser Valley and 1996 Saguenay floods, detailing contributing factors and responses, such as the Red River Floodway construction. Additionally, it clarifies flood frequency terminology and stresses the importance of preparedness measures to reduce future flood impacts.
- 16.6: Chapter 16 Summary and Key Term Check
- This page explores the significance of streams in the hydrological cycle, detailing water movement into streams and their role in drainage basins. It covers stream erosion and deposition influenced by water velocity, the variety of stream types across landscapes, and the phenomena of flooding, including peak discharge and historical floods in Canada. Flood mitigation strategies are also discussed, emphasizing the interconnected relationships between water, landforms, and flood events.