Runoff & Erosion
Did you know that moving water is the major agent of erosion? Some of the types of water erosion's are, runoff, rills, gull, stream, river and tributary.
Runoff and Rills- Runoff is water that moves over Earths surface. factors of runoff include- The amount of rain, Vegetation, type of soil, Shape of the land, and how people use the land. As runoff travels, it forms tiny groves in the soil called rills. as rills grow larger, they make a gully.
Gully- A gully is a large grove , or channel, in the water that carries runoff after a rainstorm. As water flows through the gullies, it moves soil and rocks, making the gullies bigger. Gullies only contain water after it rains. if several gullies meet together, then can make a stream.
Streams and Rivers - A stream is a channel where water is always moving along the slope. Unlike the gullies, the streams almost never dry up. Small streams also might be called a creek of brook. As the streams meet together, they get larger and larger,and eventually, they make a river.
Tributary- in order for the stream to grow, it has to receive water from the tributaries. A tributary is a stream or river that flows into a larger river. The tributaries get the water from a drainage basin, also called a watershed.
Runoff and Rills- Runoff is water that moves over Earths surface. factors of runoff include- The amount of rain, Vegetation, type of soil, Shape of the land, and how people use the land. As runoff travels, it forms tiny groves in the soil called rills. as rills grow larger, they make a gully.
Gully- A gully is a large grove , or channel, in the water that carries runoff after a rainstorm. As water flows through the gullies, it moves soil and rocks, making the gullies bigger. Gullies only contain water after it rains. if several gullies meet together, then can make a stream.
Streams and Rivers - A stream is a channel where water is always moving along the slope. Unlike the gullies, the streams almost never dry up. Small streams also might be called a creek of brook. As the streams meet together, they get larger and larger,and eventually, they make a river.
Tributary- in order for the stream to grow, it has to receive water from the tributaries. A tributary is a stream or river that flows into a larger river. The tributaries get the water from a drainage basin, also called a watershed.
Erosion by Rivers
Waterfalls- Waterfalls may occur where a river meets an area of rock that can be eroded easily. The flowing water will erode the rock and form a cliff.
Meanders- Rivers often have a meander where it flows through rock or sediment that is easily eroded. A meander is a loop- like bend in the path of the river. As the river moves from side to side, it erodes the outer banks and deposit the sediment there. The meander will continue to become more and more curved. Meanders are very common.
Oxbow lakes- Sometimes a meander will cause something called an oxbow lake to form. An oxbow lake is a meander that has been cut off of the river. Oxbow lakes usually form when a river floods. The water wants to find a straighter path to the end so they move around and the bank gets cutoff by the deposited sediment.
Meanders- Rivers often have a meander where it flows through rock or sediment that is easily eroded. A meander is a loop- like bend in the path of the river. As the river moves from side to side, it erodes the outer banks and deposit the sediment there. The meander will continue to become more and more curved. Meanders are very common.
Oxbow lakes- Sometimes a meander will cause something called an oxbow lake to form. An oxbow lake is a meander that has been cut off of the river. Oxbow lakes usually form when a river floods. The water wants to find a straighter path to the end so they move around and the bank gets cutoff by the deposited sediment.
Deposits by Rivers
Meanders- Rivers often have a meander where it flows through rock or sediment that is easily eroded. A meander is a loop- like bend in the path of the river. As the river moves from side to side, it erodes the outer banks and deposit the sediment there. The meander will continue to become more and more curved. Meanders are very common.
Oxbow lakes- Sometimes a meander will cause something called an oxbow lake to form. An oxbow lake is a meander that has been cut off of the river. Oxbow lakes usually form when a river floods. The water wants to find a straighter path to the end so they move around and the bank gets cutoff by the deposited sediment.
Alluvial fan- An alluvial fan is a broad place of sediment where the river and the end of a mountain meet. As it says in the name, the alluvial FAN is shaped like a fan. Where the sediment gets dropped off by the end of the river is where alluvial fans usually form at because the sediment is picked up and drooped at the end of the mountain and spread out.
Deltas- When sediment is deposited at the bottom of a lake or river it makes a landform called a delta. Deltas form when the water slows down and the sediment settles to the bottom. Deltas can be many different shapes, such as triangles, squares, ECT.
Soil on a flood plain- Deposition will also happen when there is flood. Large amounts of rain or snow will melt then spread over the plain. This will move and deposit new sediment and soil. this will allow for a forest to grow it is also good land to plant crops on.
Oxbow lakes- Sometimes a meander will cause something called an oxbow lake to form. An oxbow lake is a meander that has been cut off of the river. Oxbow lakes usually form when a river floods. The water wants to find a straighter path to the end so they move around and the bank gets cutoff by the deposited sediment.
Alluvial fan- An alluvial fan is a broad place of sediment where the river and the end of a mountain meet. As it says in the name, the alluvial FAN is shaped like a fan. Where the sediment gets dropped off by the end of the river is where alluvial fans usually form at because the sediment is picked up and drooped at the end of the mountain and spread out.
Deltas- When sediment is deposited at the bottom of a lake or river it makes a landform called a delta. Deltas form when the water slows down and the sediment settles to the bottom. Deltas can be many different shapes, such as triangles, squares, ECT.
Soil on a flood plain- Deposition will also happen when there is flood. Large amounts of rain or snow will melt then spread over the plain. This will move and deposit new sediment and soil. this will allow for a forest to grow it is also good land to plant crops on.
Deposits by Rivers
Alluvial fan- An alluvial fan is a broad place of sediment where the river and the end of a mountain meet. As it says in the name, the alluvial FAN is shaped like a fan. Where the sediment gets dropped off by the end of the river is where alluvial fans usually form at because the sediment is picked up and drooped at the end of the mountain and spread out.
Deltas- When sediment is deposited at the bottom of a lake or river it makes a landform called a delta. Deltas form when the water slows down and the sediment settles to the bottom. Deltas can be many different shapes, such as triangles, squares, ETC.
Soil on a flood plain- Deposition will also happen when there is flood. Large amounts of rain or snow will melt then spread over the plain. This will move and deposit new sediment and soil. this will allow for a forest to grow it is also good land to plant crops on.
Deltas- When sediment is deposited at the bottom of a lake or river it makes a landform called a delta. Deltas form when the water slows down and the sediment settles to the bottom. Deltas can be many different shapes, such as triangles, squares, ETC.
Soil on a flood plain- Deposition will also happen when there is flood. Large amounts of rain or snow will melt then spread over the plain. This will move and deposit new sediment and soil. this will allow for a forest to grow it is also good land to plant crops on.
Groundwater Erosion
Groundwater erosion is the term that geologists use to describe underground water. Just like the water on the surface, it will cause erosion. Groundwater will cause erosion through chemical weathering. Water sinks into the ground and mixes with carbon dioxide, and makes carbonic acid. Carbonic acid has the ability to break down limestone. The acid will sink into the cracks in the limestone and will cause it to change because of the chemicals and be carried away by water. This will keep happening, making a hollow space, and when big enough, will turn into a cave.
Cave formations- All these factors may also cause deposition. Inside caves with limestone, stalactites and stalagmites form. When water containing limestone drips from the ceiling of the cave, the carbon dioxide is removed, and calcite is left behind. it leaves a deposit that looks like an icicle looking thing called a stalactite hanging from the ceiling. The deposit will leak from the ceiling onto the floor, and will build up and make something called a stalagmite on the cave floor.
Karst topography- In places where a lot of rain may occur, and where there is a layer of limestone under the ground, it is easy for groundwater erosion to occur. Streams are now almost rare because it would be very easy for the ground to sink. If the roof of a cave collapses because of the erosion of the limestone under it, the this make cause something called a sinkhole. This is called karst topography.
Cave formations- All these factors may also cause deposition. Inside caves with limestone, stalactites and stalagmites form. When water containing limestone drips from the ceiling of the cave, the carbon dioxide is removed, and calcite is left behind. it leaves a deposit that looks like an icicle looking thing called a stalactite hanging from the ceiling. The deposit will leak from the ceiling onto the floor, and will build up and make something called a stalagmite on the cave floor.
Karst topography- In places where a lot of rain may occur, and where there is a layer of limestone under the ground, it is easy for groundwater erosion to occur. Streams are now almost rare because it would be very easy for the ground to sink. If the roof of a cave collapses because of the erosion of the limestone under it, the this make cause something called a sinkhole. This is called karst topography.