In a typical stream where the gradient is steep the discharge is small.
In a typical stream where the gradient is steep the discharge is small.
In a typical stream where the gradient is steep the discharge is small.
A steep gradient will force the water to flow downhill faster.
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.
Q-Tips
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.
At the headwaters (in the mountains) the gradient is steep, then as the stream moves into the foothills and onto the plains on its way to the sea where it has its mouth, the gradient gets less and less steep.
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 three factors that affect the rate of stream erosion are the velocity of the water flow, the amount and size of sediment carried by the stream, and the type of rock or soil through which the stream flows. Additionally, factors such as the slope of the land and human activities can also influence the rate of erosion.
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.
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).