GEOGRAPHY

Revision
Geomorphology
 TOPICS

1 Stream patterns

2 Stream orders

3 Longitudinal & cross profiles

4 Fluvial landforms

5 Stream piracy

6 Rejuvenation
 STREAM PATTERNS
RADIAL
•From highest
central point
(butte/conical hill)
RECTANGULAR
•Bends 90°
•Tributaries 90°
•Joints and faults
DENDRITIC
•Tree
•Uniform rocks

TRELLIS MUST KNOW THE FOLLOWING

•Alternating layers of •What does it look like
hard and soft rock •Description
•Parallel streams •Underlying structures
DENDRITIC PATTERN

Looks like the

branches of a
tree
TRELLIS PATTERN
 GOOGLE EARTH IMAGE
RECTANGULAR STREAM PATTERN

Igneous rocks
with joints

River flows
in joints

90º bends(rectangular)

Tributaries join
Rectangular(90º)
Via Afika
RADIAL PATTERN
PARALLEL PATTERN

Common along a
ridge or hill.
Streams flow
parallel to each
other.
 DRAINAGE PATTERNS
Pattern Dendritic Trellis Radial Rectangular Centripetal Deranged Parallel

Diagram

Looks like Strong Looks like Tributaries Opposite of Small Streams

branches of main spokes of a join at right radial streams flow
Description a tree. stream wheel when angles and pattern. that have parallel to
Tributaries joined by viewed have bends no specific each other
join at short from above of 90° pattern
acute tributaries
angles. at right
angles
Uniform Gently Rivers flow In areas Streams Very flat Common
Underlying rocks of sloping away from with hard flow areas that along a
structures similar alternating a high rock that is towards a have ridge or
hardness layers of central well jointed. central experience hills.
hard and point such basin such d recent
soft rock like a butte as a marsh glaciation
or mesa or lake
 DRAINAGE DENSITY
High density • High rainfall
• Hard rocks
• Steep slopes
• Less vegetation
• Less infiltration

• Low rainfall
• Softer rocks
• Gentle slope
• Lots of vegetation
• More infiltration
Low density
STREAM ORDERS CONCEPTS
Source and
First order streams are like fingertips Confluence

   
  

 
1+1=2
2+2=3
  3+1=3
 
3+2=3
 3+3=4
4+1=4
 4+2=4
4+3=4
4+4=5
 etc

 
 Discharge of a River

Laminar flow Turbulent flow

• Water flows as parallel sheets. • Water flows turbulent.

• River bed is even. • River bed is uneven.
• Less erosion. • More erosion.
• Lower course • Upper course.
 Longitudinal and Cross Profiles

Longitudinal Profile
Side view of a river from source to mouth

• Steep Source
• Fast flowing
• Turbulence
• Very gradual
• Slow flowing
• Less turbulence

Mouth

Transverse (Cross) Profile

Shape of river valley from one bank to the opposite bank
Longitudinal profile of a river
Longitudinal &
UPPER COURSE
Cross Profiles • Steep
• Fast flowing
• Downward erosion
• Water falls, rapids,
interlocking spurs
MIDDLE COURSE
• Gradual
• Slower flow
• Lateral erosion
• Meanders, spurs

LOWER COURSE
• Almost flat
• Flows very slowly
• Deposition
• Oxbow lakes, deltas
meanders, marshes
braided streams,
sand banks
 Upper course

Downward erosion

Spurs

Narrow V-shaped
valley
 Middle course

Gradual slope

Meanders

Lateral erosion
Valley wider
 Lower course

River
mouth

Floodplain

Almost flat Meanders

Wide channel
 Summary: Longitudinal & Cross profiles
UPPER COURSE MIDDLE COURSE LOWER COURSE
Cross
profile

Steep Gradual Almost flat

Features
Processs Flows fast Flows slower Flows very slowly

Downward Lateral Deposition

erosion erosion

Waterfalls Meanders Sandbanks Land-

Rapids Spurs Marshes forms
Spurs Braided stream
Oxbow lakes

SEA

Source Mouth
 Topographic map: Upper course

UPPER COURSE
• Steep
• Fast flowing
• Downward erosion
• Water falls, rapids,
interlocking spurs
Topographic map: Middle course

MIDDLE COURSE
• Gradual
• Slower flow
• Lateral erosion
• Meanders, spurs
 LOWER COURSE

L V L
E E
 River grading

Ungraded profile Temporary bases of erosion

Waterfall lake

Graded profile

Smooth concave profile –

waterfall and lake removed
CROSS PROFILE ROUND A BEND

Y Undercut
Erosion
X
Deposition Slower
Slipoff flow
Fluvial landforms
Oxbow lake
Mender scar

Floodplain

Braided Delta
stream

Floodplain: Found in lower course of river

Are flat and adjacent to the river
Waterfalls Rapids
Where gradient increases
Softer less Flows over harder & softer rock
resistant rock Increased turbulence
eroded faster

Small steps along course

Softer less
resistant rock
 Natural Levee

Levee
Deposition
Flooding
Coarse
material

Levee
Braided stream

• Multiple channels
• Islands between streams
• Deposition in channel

Photo: A Hambly
The formation of Oxbow lakes
 Oxbow lakes
River cuts through neck

Nek gets narrower

Erosion
RIVER CAPTURE
Before capture
 RIVER CAPTURE

Headward erosion
 RIVER CAPTURE
After capture

Captured stream

Elbow of capture

Captor stream
Wind gap

Misfit stream

Via Afrika
 Rejuvenation

FEATURES/LANDFORMS
• Knickpoint (waterfall)
• Terraces
• Incised meanders

Upper Middle course Lower course: Old river

Young Mature river flows slower Flows very slow
River
Flows
fast

REJUVENATION •Drop in sea level

River starts to flow faster. •Land rises
Has renewed energy and HOW? •Increase in rainfall
increased erosion. •Fast flowing tributary
•Stream piracy
Rejuvenation Terraces
Features
Incised meanders
Landforms

Knickpoint waterfall