Fluvial Systems

1
Fluvial Systems

• Geography 2106 Geomorphology
• Department of Geography Geology
• Nipissing University
• 2008

2
Review of Periglacial Systems

• Ice Ages
• Periglacial Environments
• Periglacial Processes
• Periglacial Landforms
• Human Interactions

3
Human Interactions

• Management Approaches
• i) Passive
• ii) Active
• b) Human Activity
• i) Buildings
• (see plate 9.4)

4
Human Interactions

• b) Human Activity
• ii) Utilities
• (e.g. utilidors)
• iii) Roads Airfield
• iv) Pipelines

5
Introduction

• a) Geomorphic System
• i) Slopes
• ii) Channels/Networks
• b) Drainage Basins
• i) Defn
• An area which contributes sediment and
  water to a river and its tributaries.

6
Introduction

• b) Drainage Basins
• ii) Human Activity
• iii) Fundamental Areal Unit
• c) Drainage Basins As a System
• i) Inputs Losses
• ii) Flows
• (e.g. flowpaths)

7
Introduction

• c) Drainage Basins As a System
• iii) Lags Stores
• (e.g. seasonal perennial)
• iv) Exports
• d) Hydrological System
• (see figs. 10.1 and 5.1)

8

• Flowpaths
• a) Overland Flow (Runoff)
• i) Hortonian Overland Flow
• (NB. infiltration capacity)
• ii) Saturation Overland Flow
• (NB. zones of convergence)

9

• Flowpaths
• b) Throughflow
• i) Slow Throughflow
• ii) Rapid Throughflow
• c) Groundwater

10

• Channellised Flow
• a) Types
• i) Ephemeral
• (NB. runoff)
• ii) Intermittent
• (NB. runoff groundwater)
• iii) Perennial
• (NB. groundwater runoff)

11

• Channellised Flow
• b) Channel Initiation
• i) Critical distance from the divide
• ii) Headward extension (see plate 5.1)

12

• Channellised Flow
• c) Discharge
• i) Streamflow (Discharge)
• ii) Sediment
• d) Streamflow
• i) Defn
• The volume of water passing through the
  channel at a point during a specific time
  period.

13

• Channellised Flow
• d) Streamflow
• ii) Major Canadian Rivers
• (see fig 10.3)

14

• Channellised Flow
• d) Streamflow
• iii) Measurement
• (NB. Q wdv see figs. 10.7 10.4)

15

• Channellised Flow
• d) Streamflow
• iv) Spatial Temporal Variations
• (e.g. diurnal/seasonal longitudinal)
• v) Hydrographs
• (NB. flashiness peakedness see fig.
  10.6)

16

• Channellised Flow
• e) Sediment Transport
• i) Annual Sediment Yields
• (e.g. 300 million metric tons by Canadian
  Rivers)
• ii) Weathering Entrainment
• (e.g. corrosion, corrasion, hydraulic
  plucking)

17

• Channellised Flow
• e) Sediment Transport
• iii) Shear Stresses vs. Resistance
• (see figs. 10.12 10.11)

18

• Channellised Flow
• e) Sediment Transport
• iv) Modes of Transport
• (i.e. bedload, suspended, solution)
• v) Spatial Temporal Variations
• (see figs. 10.16, 10.13 10.15)

19

• Channellised Flow
• e) Sediment Transport
• vi) Denudation Rates
• (see fig. 10.19)

20

• Drainage Networks
• a) Drainage Patterns
• (see fig. 11.1)

21

• Drainage Networks
• b) Channel Patterns
• i) Types
• (e.g. straight, meandering, braided,
  anabranching see fig. 11.8, 11.9, 11.10,
  11.14)

22

• Drainage Networks
• b) Channel Patterns
• ii) Sediment Load Discharge
• iii) Spatial Temporal Variations

23

• Drainage Networks
• c) Graded Streams
• i) Base Level
• ii) Dynamic Equilibrium
• iii) Longitudinal Profile
• (see plates 11.10 11.9)

24

• Drainage Networks
• d) Stream Ordering
• i) Horton
• ii) Strahler
• (see fig. 11.5)

25

• Drainage Networks
• d) Stream Ordering
• iii) Shreve

26

• Drainage Networks
• f) Basin Area
• i) Discharge
• ii) Sediment Yield
• (N.B. lags stores)

27

• Features Landforms
• a) Erosion Deposition
• b) Floodplains
• i) Vertical Accretion
• (e.g. levees)
• ii) Lateral Accretion
• (e.g. meander scrolls see plate 11.5)

28

• Features Landforms
• d) River Terraces
• i) Erosional or Depositional
• (see fig. 11.15)

29

• Features Landforms
• d) River Terraces
• ii) Paired or Unpaired
• (see plate 11.6)

30

• Features Landforms
• e) Alluvial Fans
• i) Characteristics (see plate 11.8)

31

• Features Landforms
• e) Alluvial Fans
• ii) Sediment Load
• iii) Channel Geometry
• f) Debris Flow Fans
• (e.g. paraglacial)
• h) Deltas