The total sediment load transported by a stream is the sum of the bed load, suspended load, and dissolved load. Bed load consists of larger particles that roll, slide, and bounce along the streambed. Suspended load is finer particles carried in the water column, while dissolved load is material that is dissolved in the water itself.
A fan-shaped pattern of sediment deposit is typically caused by sediment being transported by a river or stream and then spreading out as the flow slows down at the point where the river meets a larger body of water, such as a lake or ocean. The slowing of the flow causes the sediment to settle and form the fan-shaped deposit.
The formation of an alluvial fan can vary greatly depending on factors such as the volume of sediment, the slope of the terrain, and the rate of erosion. In general, it can take thousands to tens of thousands of years for an alluvial fan to fully form. The process involves the deposition of sediment carried by a river or stream as it loses energy and spreads out at the base of a mountain or hill. Over time, the sediment accumulates and creates the characteristic fan-shaped landform.
A stream with gravel and rocks typically has a higher sediment load. The presence of gravel and rocks indicates that the stream has the ability to transport larger particles, which increases its sediment load compared to streams with smaller particles like sand or silt.
Deposition is dominant in areas of a stream where the flow rate decreases, such as at the inner bends of a meander or near the mouth of the stream where it enters a larger body of water. In these locations, the stream has less energy to transport sediment, leading to deposition of the sediment it is carrying.
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Deposition, whereby the sediment load being transported is dropped.
Sediment that is carried by a stream along the bottom of its channel.
The greater the time that stream sediment is transported, the greater the probability that the sediment will become more rounded and well-rounded due to abrasion and attrition processes.
Sediment transported in a stream can cause abrasion by acting as a kind of sandpaper, physically rubbing against and wearing away the surface of rocks and other materials in the stream's bed and banks. The force of the moving water and sediment can increase the rate of abrasion, particularly in areas with high sediment loads or fast-flowing currents. Over time, this abrasion can result in the erosion and shaping of the stream's channel.
it's a delta!
Alluvial fan
it's a delta!
it's a delta!