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In the upper course of a river, there is a V-shaped valley with a steep gradient as the water is constantly using up the majority of its energy to overcome friction. As a river flows downstream, the valley becomes a U-shape and the gradient decreases. This is because there is less gravitational pull towards the sea/lake level. Also towards the middle and lower courses, there are more tributaries and confluences which will add more discharge to the river basin. This is constantly happening and thus, as it flows downstream it increases. The velocity also increases as there is more discharge.
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
Wiki User
∙ 16y agoThe one main characteristic that changes downstream is the gradient decreases. The type of sediment found in this area of the stream is going to be larger than in any other part of the stream and obstructs the water flow. This in turn causes more sediment to collect upstream which slows down the flow of water and this in turn decreases the rate of erosion. This area of the stream is going to favor deposition of sediment more that it is going to favor erosion. As you go further downstream the rate of water flow will increase as will the rate of erosion in the bed of the stream. The type of sediment that you find also changes as you go further downstream. Sediment will become smaller in size because the water can carry it further.
The characteristics that increase downstream however, are entirely different. There is a change in the width, depth and water speed further downstream. This happens because of the amount of run off from rainwater and melting ice that soak into the ground. The bed of the stream is what allows for the water flow to increase it's speed. The bed is smoother and has fewer obstructions therefore allowing the water to increase it rate of travel. The reason for the smoother streambed is erosion occurs faster due to the increased water speed. This portion of the stream highly favors the erosion.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoBecause the channel width and the channel depth have to increase to allow more water in the river and this will happen by vertical and lateral erosion.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoIf you are talking about an axial turbine, the cross-sectional area increases to maintain constant axial velocity.
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoStream discharge would increase if additional water enters it, such as from a rain storm or from melting snow.
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What is a stream discharge?
a streams discharge is the excess water from a storm or melted snow.
What is the relationship between discharge and slope of a stream?
AnswerDischarge of material? Material discharged or eroded would increase with increasing slope due to the increased cutting action of the water.
What factor is most likely to affect the amount of erosion done by a stream?
The slope or gradient of the stream is the most likely factor to affect the amount of erosion. Steeper slopes result in higher velocities, which in turn increase the erosive power of the stream. A steeper slope also allows the stream to carry larger sediment and potentially cause more erosion.
What are the three factors that affect the rate of stream erosion?
it is gradient, discharge and load.
Stream velocity is faster in a?
Stream velocity is dependent of four things. They are, the flow type, the gradient, the channel shape, and the discharge of the stream. Streams will flow faster in narrow channels on steeper grades.
Why a stream discharge increase?
Stream discharge would increase if additional water enters it, such as from a rain storm or from melting snow.
What happens after a stream discharge increases?
After a stream's discharge increases, it overflows its banks and a flood occurs.
As surface runoff increases stream discharge will do what?
increase
Does the carrying capacity increase as a stream's slope and discharge increases?
true
How does an increase in a streams velocity affect its discharge and carrying capacity?
When the discharge of a stream increases, so does it's velocity. When it decreases, so does the velocity.
What happens to stream speed if the discharge in a stream doubles?
If in a given stream the velocity doubles, the discharge: Choose one answer
In a typical stream where the gradient in steep the discharge is?
In a typical stream where the gradient is steep the discharge is small.
In a typical stream where the gradient is steep the discharge .?
In a typical stream where the gradient is steep the discharge is small.
What happens after stream discharge increases?
After a stream's discharge increases, it overflows its banks and a flood occurs.
If a stream's discharge decreases how does it affect the stream's capacity?
The capacity of a stream is the maximum load it can carry. Capacity is directly related to a stream's discharge. The greater the volume of water in a stream is, the greater its capacity is for carrying sediment. So if a stream's discharge decreases, the stream's capacity also decreases.
What does A stream discharge .?
Water.
What is a discharge of a stream?
a discharge of a stream is the amount of water flowing past a certain point in a given unit of time.
