What makes Earth unique

Where is the water on our

planet ?

Water volume, in Percent of

cubic miles total water

Oceans 317,000,000 97.2400%

Icecaps, Glaciers 7,000,000 2.1400%

Ground water 2,000,000 0.6100%

Fresh-water lakes 30,000 0.0090%

Inland seas 25,000 0.0080%

Soil moisture 16,000 0.0050%

Atmosphere 3,100 0.0010%

Rivers 300 0.0001%

Total water volume 326,000,000 100%

Water source

Water Storage Reservoirs

Water (Hydrologic) Cycle

Pathways and Processes

•Evaporation

•Transpiration

•Condensation

•Precipitation

•Surface Runoff

•Infiltration

Evapotranspiration

Why is the water cycle important ?

•Essential for Life

•Transportation

•Drinking Water

•Irrigation

•Industrial Processing

Surface Water

Running Water

Stream Erosion

Transport and Deposition of Sediments

Drainage Networks

Stages of Valley Development

1. Laminar Flow - particles flow in a straight-line path, parallel to the stream channel

2. Turbulent Flow - water moves in an erratic fashions characterized by swirling, whirlpool-like eddies

Controlled by: velocity of flow and roughness of the channel bottom

Running Water(streamflow)

Running Water(streamflow)

Discharge - the amount (volume) of water passing a certain point in a given amount of time.

m3/sec, MGD, cfs, gal/min.

Headwaters Mouth

Stream Gradient

Stream Erosion

Fast moving water erodes material.

Slow moving water deposits material.

Transportation - stream transport provides a mechanism by which solid particles of various sizes are separated (SORTED).

Deposition - well-sorted material deposited by streams is called (ALLUVIUM).

Transport and Deposition of Sediments

Channel Deposits

Transport and Deposition of Sediments

Bars - temporary channel deposits of sand, gravel, and coarser components of the stream’s load.

Point Bars - bars which occur on the inside of a bend.

Stream Erosion

Cut Bank

Point Bar

Transport and Deposition of Sediments

Meander – a looplike bend in the coarse of a stream

Development of Ox Bow Lakes

Ox Bow Lakes

Braided

Streams

Braided Streams

Deltas and Alluvial Fans

Alluvial Fans – develop where a high-gradient stream leaves a narrow mountainous valley.

Drainage Patterns

Drainage Patterns

Drainage Patterns

Stages of Valley Development - Youth

Stages of Valley Development - Maturity

Stages of Valley Development - Maturity

Stages of Valley Development – Old Age

Floodplain - the part of the valley that is inundated during a flood

Floodplain

Mississippi River