302-Lecture 6

General Outline

Fluvial Processes

I. Introduction, General Considerations

II. Runoff and rainsplash erosion

A. Horton’s model of surface erosion

B. stream network evolution (headward erosion, increase in stream length, density, relief)

III. Velocity profiles and stream erosion

A. straight segment vs meander

B. stream gauging

C. estimating flow velocity

D. discharge (Q=AV)

E. channel scouring and deposition

IV. Stream discharge

A. stream discharge curve and water balance equation

B. discharge in U.S. streams

C. influent vs effluent streams

V. Stream transport

A. material in solution, suspension, or as part of bed load

B. bed load processes

C. Hjulstrom diagram

D. discharge and suspended load

E. human impact on stream load

F. sediment yield and climate

VI. Floods

A. frequency curves

B. Channeled Scablands

C. human impact of urbanization

D. reservoir construction

VII. Meandering and braided streams

A. meander amplitude

B. downvalley sweep