Decrease. The source of the river is usually in a mountainous area with a steep gradient.
A stream's velocity typically increases downstream due to the accumulation of water volume and slope gradient. This leads to higher flow rates and faster-moving water.
The gradient typically decreases as you move from the headwaters to the mouth of a stream. This is because the elevation drops and the slope becomes gentler downstream.
Stream gradient, or the slope of the stream channel, affects stream velocity by influencing the speed at which water flows downstream. A steeper stream gradient typically results in a faster water flow velocity, as the force of gravity pulls water downhill more strongly. Conversely, a gentler stream gradient leads to slower water flow velocity.
it decreses
The discharge for a single stream should not change much from the headwater to the mouth. The exceptions to the mouth would be if another stream joined the main stream, which would increase the discharge or if you loose a significant amount of water to infilitration, which would decrease the discharge. The gradient should be high at the headwaters and gradually decrease downstream where it should be low at the mouth. Of course differences in lithologies or secondary streams can change the gradient for a short distance, thought the overall profile should fit the expected model.
An increase in rainfall can increase the slope of a stream by eroding the surrounding land and steepening the riverbanks. Conversely, a decrease in rainfall or the deposition of sediment along the streambed can decrease the slope of a stream by smoothing out its gradient.
The gradient of a stream affects the speed of the water as it moves downstream. The steeper the gradient, the faster the water moves.
The gradient of a river is mostly flat or downhill which means that as the water flows it is affected by gravity. The steeper the gradient goes downhill, the more gravity will affect the water which will make the water flow faster (increases the velocity).
A steeper gradient generally results in a faster flow velocity, while a shallower gradient typically leads to slower flow velocity in a stream. This is because the slope of the streambed determines how quickly water can move downstream due to gravity.
The gradient or slope of the streambed and the volume of water flowing through the stream are the two main factors determining the speed of a stream. A steeper gradient typically results in a faster-flowing stream, while a higher volume of water will also increase the stream's speed.
The stream will begin to downcut, eroding the bedrock as it tries to establish a new equilibrium with the steeper gradient. The increased energy from the steeper gradient will cause the stream to transport sediment more efficiently downstream. Over time, the stream will adjust its profile by eroding its bed and banks to accommodate the new uplifted crust.
A decrease in water velocity usually causes more sediments to be deposited at a location in a stream. This can happen when the stream widens, the channel gradient decreases, or obstacles such as rocks or vegetation slow down the flow of water.