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Water Cycle and Drainage

Infiltration is the vertical movement of water from the surface into the ground, while percolation is the continuous downward movement of water through the soil. Drainage basins, or catchment areas, collect water from rivers and are divided by watersheds, with tributaries contributing to a mainstream. There are three drainage patterns: dendritic, trellis, and radial, each characterized by specific shapes and rock formations.

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17 views5 pages

Water Cycle and Drainage

Infiltration is the vertical movement of water from the surface into the ground, while percolation is the continuous downward movement of water through the soil. Drainage basins, or catchment areas, collect water from rivers and are divided by watersheds, with tributaries contributing to a mainstream. There are three drainage patterns: dendritic, trellis, and radial, each characterized by specific shapes and rock formations.

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ledwinmichaelm
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Define infiltration and percolation.

Infiltration is a vertical movement of water from the surface entering the ground.
Percolation is the continuous downward movement of water through the soil.

Distinguish between the processes of infiltration and percolation.


These processes are both vertical movements of water in the soil. Infiltration
only reaches the top/subsoil whereas percolation, the water reaches deeper into
the ground/soil.

Waterfall can form when a resistant rock such as a dyke is in the streams path
causing it to jump over it. However the water fall is greater when the stream
encounters the edge of a plateau over which it falls.
DRAINAGE
Drainage basin is also known as the catchment area. It is the area where all
rivers flow on land.
It is divided from other drainage basins by a water divide/water shed.
This is marked by joining the highest points/ sources from where the rivers begin.
Consequent stream is your mainstream, where all rivers converge.
Tributary is a stream which joins the mainstream. Contributes water to the
mainstream.
Confluence is the point/angle where a tributary joins a consequent stream.

Illustration of a drainage basin


Drainage patterns
There are 3 types of drainage patterns.
1. Dendritic drainage pattern (tree- like appearance). Drainage has a heart
shape or a pear shape
Rocks: This develops over areas with rocks of equal resistance.
Confluence: tributaries join the mainstream at angles less that 90 degrees
(acuate angles)

2. Trellis drainage pattern (rectangular shape)


Rocks: This forms in areas with alternating bands of hard and soft rocks.
Confluence: tributaries join the mainstream at right angles (90degrees)

3. Radial drainage pattern (oval/elongated/circular shape). The rivers flow


outwards like the spokes of a bicycle.
Rocks: The rivers flow from a central high point such as a volcanic dome,
plateau or a ridge.
Confluence: none. Because there is no consequent stream.
How to describe drainage on a map

- Drainage pattern: dendritic, trellis or radial (name streams)


- Flow of the mainstream: high ground to low ground (steep gradient to flat
land/ close and high value contours to far apart and low value contours)
*height of the source*
- Drainage density: the quantity of streams (high, moderate, low)
High drainage – present in areas with impermeable rocks

- Types of streams:
a) Perennial streams: run all year round
b) Seasonal streams: run intermittently
c) Resurgent streams: which run for short periods, disappear and
reappear

- Types of drainage (how water flows on the land)


 Good drainage: lots of perennial streams, long tributaries
 Poor drainage: seasonal streams, resurgent streams, swamps

- Mention and identify river landforms


a) Meanders (where are they, small or pronounced)

b) Ox bow lake or a cut off

c) Flood plains

d) Braided stream

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