14.1. Streams and Floods – Learning Outcomes

After reading this chapter of the textbook, learning the vocabulary, and working through the review questions, students should be able to:

• Describe the different major reservoirs of water on Earth, and their residence time.
• Define the term drainage basin, and give examples of how drainage basins influence surface water movement.
• Describe the different ways that sediments are transported in streams.
• Describe the different types of stream channels and the parts of streams.
• Describe how streams mature through time.
• Explain the concept of base level, and describe how base level can change due to natural and engineered processes.
• Describe how sediments are transported and deposited during flood events, and some of the evidence that is left behind by floods.

Learning outcomes not covered in the textbook chapter in detail, but we may discuss them in class (depending on your professor):

• Explain how individual water use is related to water stress and scarcity, and provide examples of placers in the world where there is water stress and scarcity.
• Explain how human activities influence water quality and movement.
• Describe the pattern of water runoff over North America.
• Describe the concepts of stream and watershed order and provide examples of each.
• Describe the patterns of sediment deposition in flood plains, deltas, graded streams, and alluvial fans.