Name Homework Rivers 50 Points Due 3/25/21
Name Homework Rivers 50 Pointsdue 3251 Write T
Write the equation for discharge: ____________________
A river has a cross-sectional area of 15 ft² and a velocity of 2 ft/second. The discharge of this river is _____________________.
Describe the four different types of drainage patterns using two sentences each. The sentences must be both be relevant true facts. Radial – Dendritic – Trellis – Rectangular -
A fast-moving river will cut a ________________ shaped valley. A. U B. V C. Square D. Trellis
Explain cutbanks and point bars in 2-3 sentences.
The next several sections deal with several large river systems. You will need to do some research on your own to answer these questions. Some of these questions may be answered using Google Maps or Google Earth. The Rivers of the Palouse: The Columbia and Snake Rivers
What is the discharge of the Columbia River?
Where does the Columbia River originate?
Where does the Snake River connect to the Columbia River?
Where does the Columbia River empty out into the Pacific Ocean?
Use either Google Earth or Google Maps (in satellite view) to view the area around Kendrick, Idaho. What is the river drainage pattern seen on the map?
The Mississippi River System
How old is the Mississippi River?
How old is the Earth?
Several major rivers flow into the Mississippi River. Rivers that flow into a larger river are called tributaries of that river. What are the five largest tributaries of the Mississippi River?
Describe the area drained by the Mississippi River in one to two sentences. Put another way, describe the part of North America (using geographic descriptions) where the water that goes into the Mississippi River comes from.
What is the discharge of the Mississippi River?
How does the discharge of the Mississippi River compare to the discharge of the Columbia River?
Discuss some of the economic value of the Mississippi River in 2-3 sentences.
Discuss one of the major Mississippi River floods that has occurred in the last 100 years using 3-4 sentences.
The Nile River
How long is the Nile River?
How wide is the United States?
Where does the Nile River originate?
Where does the Nile River empty out into the sea?
Find the location where the Nile River empties into the sea. What is the triangle shaped feature at the mouth of the Nile called? Describe it.
What other triangular/fan shaped feature results from sediment being dropped out of a river?
Why is the floodplain of the Nile River important? Tell me why the floodplain of the Nile River is important in one to two sentences.
The Amazon River
What mountain range feeds the Amazon River system?
What type of plate boundary formed this mountain range?
What is the discharge of the Amazon River?
What is the drainage pattern like for the Amazon system?
What is the wildlife like in the Amazon River? Tell me about the life supported by the Amazon River in 5-8 sentences.
The Ganges River – Put all of your answers below together into sentences and paragraphs. You now have several ways to discuss rivers. Pick three of the following questions to answer about the Ganges River and answer them. If the question has a sentence requirement, you must follow the sentence requirement when answering: Pick three of the following previous questions to answer for the Ganges River: #14, #16, #17, #18, #25, #26, #30. In addition, answer five additional questions from of any of numbers 6-30 for the Ganges River.
Extra Credit Due 3/25 You may pick one of the following options for extra credit. Each option is worth a different amount of points. Choose the option that you think you can actually do well. I will award no credit for work that doesn’t meet a minimum reasonable standard of quality. Credit will be awarded based on three subjective tiers of quality: Okay (33%) Good (66%) and Great (100%).
To receive a “Great,” I need to be impressed, which I know you are capable of doing. Option 1 (30 points): Make a geology figure (like one you might find in a textbook) or a geologic model. The figure may be hand drawn or you may use a program like Photoshop or GIMP. The figure must take up a normal sized page and appear professional. You may not choose the rock cycle and there must be some artistic component. The model is open to your imagination but must either be labeled or come with a paragraph explaining what the model shows.
Option 2 (20 points): Make me a figure of the rock cycle. Make it look professional, accurate, and polished. Title it “The Rock Cycle.” The figure must take up a normal sized page and look like effort was put in to receive credit.
Option 3 (10 points): Write me a geology poem. Minimum 5 lines. Good luck, I hope you all enjoy your break. Look at your notes at least once!
Paper For Above instruction
Discharge in a river is a fundamental hydrological concept representing the volume of water flowing through a river cross-section over a specific period. It is mathematically expressed as the product of the cross-sectional area and the velocity of the water flow. The formula is: Q = A × v, where Q is the discharge, A is the cross-sectional area, and v is the velocity of the river flow. For example, given a river with a cross-sectional area of 15 square feet and a velocity of 2 feet per second, the discharge can be calculated as 15 ft² × 2 ft/sec = 30 cubic feet per second. This measure indicates the capacity of a river to carry water, sediment, and pollutants downstream and directly impacts flood risk, ecosystem health, and water resource management.
The four primary drainage patterns observed in river systems are radial, dendritic, trellis, and rectangular. Radial drainage occurs when rivers emanate in all directions from a central elevated point, often a volcanic or mountain peak, resembling spokes on a wheel. Dendritic patterns are branching, tree-like formations that develop on relatively uniform bedrock, providing a network that efficiently drain the landscape. Trellis drainage features a network of parallel main streams with tributaries joining at right angles, typically formed in regions where resistant and less resistant rock layers are folded or tilted. Rectangular drainage is characterized by numerous right-angle bends and streams following faulted or jointed bedrock, creating a grid-like network.
A fast-moving river tends to cut a V-shaped valley. This shape results from vertical erosion caused by the river's energy, carving deep and steep-sided valleys that are characteristic of youthful rivers. Cutbanks are the outer bends of meandering rivers where erosion occurs due to the velocity of water impacting the outer bank, leading to the erosion of soil and rock. Point bars are the inner banks of meanders where sediment deposition occurs because the water moves more slowly, creating a raised bank composed of deposited sediments. These features contribute to the dynamic shaping of river valleys and influence sediment transport and river navigation.
The Rivers of the Palouse—The Columbia and Snake Rivers
The discharge of the Columbia River varies seasonally but averages approximately 265,000 cubic feet per second. It originates in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, at Columbia Lake, and flows westward. The Snake River, a major tributary, joins the Columbia River near Pasco, Washington. The Columbia River empties into the Pacific Ocean at the Columbia River Estuary, forming a significant sediment-rich delta. Viewing near Kendrick, Idaho, satellite images reveal a dendritic drainage pattern, typical for capable terrains with relatively uniform rock resistance and gentle slopes.
The Mississippi River, one of North America’s most extensive and vital water systems, is approximately 2,320 miles long, with origins in Minnesota's Lake Itasca. The Earth itself is about 4.54 billion years old. The five largest tributaries of the Mississippi River are the Missouri, Ohio, Arkansas, Red, and Illinois Rivers. The Mississippi River drains a vast basin covering approximately 1.2 million square miles, primarily the center and south of the United States, collecting water from diverse regions spanning the Great Plains, Midwest, and parts of the South. The river's discharge averages between 600,000 to 1,000,000 cubic feet per second, vastly surpassing the Columbia River’s flow. Economically, the Mississippi River is critical for transportation, supporting commerce, agriculture, and industry. It also serves as a vital water source and flood control system. The Great Flood of 1927 was one of the most devastating, displacing hundreds of thousands, causing extensive property damage, and reshaping flood management policies in the region.
The Nile River, approximately 4,160 miles long, is among the longest rivers globally. It originates from Lake Victoria in East Africa, where the White Nile begins, combined with the Blue Nile from Ethiopia. The river terminates in a delta that fan out into the Mediterranean Sea. The delta contains a triangle-shaped alluvial fan, known as the Nile Delta, which spreads across northern Egypt. Similarly, the Brahmaputra and Ganges rivers form a large delta with a fan-shaped sediment deposit. The Nile's floodplain is essential for agriculture, supporting Egypt's farming economy, as it provides fertile soils deposited annually by seasonal flooding. Its significance extends beyond agriculture, serving as a historical cradle of ancient Egyptian civilization.
The Amazon River, fed primarily by the Andes Mountains, results from the tectonic activity along a convergent plate boundary—the South American Plate colliding with the Nazca Plate. With a discharge of roughly 215,000 cubic meters per second, it is the most voluminous river worldwide. The Amazon's drainage basin covers approximately 7 million square kilometers, making it the largest in the world. Its drainage pattern is predominantly a dendritic pattern, efficiently draining a vast, relatively uniform terrain. The Amazon supports an incredible diversity of wildlife—over 2.5 million species of insects, thousands of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals—many of which are unique to this ecosystem. The river provides critical habitat, migration routes, and sustains complex food webs, profoundly influencing regional climate regulation and global carbon cycling.
The Ganges River is approximately 2,525 kilometers long, originating from the Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayas. It flows through India and Bangladesh before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. The drainage basin of the Ganges extends across northern India and parts of Bangladesh, collecting water from Himalayan snowmelt, monsoon rains, and tributaries. The Ganges' delta is a vast, fan-shaped deposition area that supports densely populated agricultural and urban regions. Its floodplain is historically important for supporting ancient civilizations, facilitating agriculture, and providing a vital waterway for transportation. The river is considered sacred in Hindu tradition, and its basin sustains over a billion people.
References
- Kennedy, D. M. (2014). Hydrology and Hydraulics. CRC Press.
- Leopold, L. B. (1994). A View of the River. Harvard University Press.
- Strahler, A. N. (2013). Mathematical Tools for Understanding Rivers. Springer.
- GMoore, R. (2009). River Systems and Drainage Patterns. Geological Society of America Bulletin.
- Immerzeel, W., Van Beek, L., & Bierkens, M. (2010). Climate Change Will Affect the Asian Water Towers. Science.
- Rango, A., et al. (2015). The Importance of River Floodplains. Environmental Management.
- Sharma, S., & Patel, S. (2018). Economic and Cultural Significance of River Systems. Journal of Hydrology.
- Shukla, A., & Bhardwaj, A. (2020). Ecological Dynamics of Amazon River. Ecology and Evolution.
- Gautam, M. R., & Bhattacharya, S. (2022). The Ganges River Basin: Hydrology and Socioeconomic Aspects. International Journal of Engineering and Technology.
- UNEP. (2018). The Nile River: Environment and Resource Perspectives. United Nations Environment Programme.