alluvial fan
a fan shaped deposit of sediment formed when a streams slope is abruptly reduced
alluvium
unconsolidated sediment deposited by a stream
aquifer
a rock strata or sediment that transmits groundwater freely
aquitard
an impermable layer that prevents the movement of groundwater
artesian well
any well in which groundwater rises above the level where it was initially encountered
backswamp
a poorly drained area on a floodplain that results when natural levees are present
bar
common term for sand and gravel deposits in a stream channel
base level
the lowest point to which a stream can erode its channel
bed load
sediment that is carried by a stream along the bottom of its channel
braided stream
has channels with an interwoven appearance
capacity
the maximum load it can carry
cavern
a naturally formed underground chamber or series of chambers most commonly produced by solution activity in limestone
competence
measures the maximum size of particles it is capable of transporting
cone of depression
a cone shaped depression in the water table immediatley surrounding a well
cutoff
a short channel segment created when a river erodes through the narrow neck of land between meanders
delta
an accumulatoin of sediment formed where a stream enters a lake or ocean
dendritic pattern
a stream system that resembles the pattern of a branching tree
discharge
the volume of water flowing past a certain point per unit of time
dissolved load
that portion of a streams load carried in solution
distributary
a section of a stream that leaves the main flow
divide
the drainage basin of one stream is separated from the drainage basin of another by this imaginary line
drainage basin
the land area that contributes water to a stream
drawdown
the difference in height between the bottom of a cone of depression and the orginal height of the water table
evapotranspiration
the combined amount of water that is evaporated from the land and transpired by plants
floodplain
flat, low-lying portion of a stream valley that is subject to inundation during flooding
geyser
a fountain of hot water ejected periodically
gradient
the slope of a stream channel expressed as the vertical drop of a stream over a specified distance
groundwater
water beneath earths surface in the zone of saturation
hot spring
a spring in which the water is warmer than the air outside
hydrologic cycle
the unending circulation of earths water supply from the oceans, to the atmosphere, to the land, and back to the oceans
incised meander
meandering channel that flows in a steep, narrow valley
infiltration
the movement of surface water into rocks or soil through cracks or pore spaces
karst topography
a topography consisting of numerous depressions called sinkholes
laminar flow
occurs when water particles move in roughly straight-line paths that parallel the stream channel
meander
a looplike, sweeping bend in a stream
natural levee
the elevated landform that parallels some streams acts to confine the streams waters, except during flood stage
oxbow lake
a curved lake produced when a stream cuts off a meander
permeability
indicates its ability to transmit water through interconnected pore spaces
porosity
the percentage of the total volume that consists of pore space
radial pattern
a system of streams running in all directions away from a central elevated structure, like a volcano
rectangular pattern
a drainage pattern characterized by numerous right angle bends that develops on jointed or fractured bedrock
runoff
water that flows over the land rather than infiltrating into the ground
sinkhole
a depression produced in region where soluble rock has been removed by groundwater
sorting
the process by which solid particles of various sizes are separated by moving water or wind
spring
when the water table intersects the ground surface, a natural flow of groundwater results
stalactite
the icicle like structure that hangs from the ceiling of a cavern
stalagmite
the columnlike form that grows upward from the floor of a cavern
stream valley
the channel, valley floor,and sloping valley walls of a stream
suspended load
the fine sediment transported within the body of flowing water
transpiration
the release of water vapor to the atmosphere by plants
trellis pattern
a tributary that flows parallel to the main stream because a natural levee is present
turbulent flow
the movement of water in an erratic fashion often characterized by swirling, whirlpool like eddies
water table
the upper limit of the zone of saturation
well
an opening bored into the zone of saturation
yazoo tributary
a tributary that flows parallel to the main stream because a natural levee is present
zone of saturation
the zone beneath earths surface where all open spaces in sediment and rock are completely filled with water
zone of aeration
area above the water table where opening in soil, sediment, and rock are not saturated but filled mainly with air
piedmont glaciers
form as 2 or more mountain glaciers merge
zone of accumulation
the part of a glacier characterized by snow accumulation and ice formation
zone of wastage
the part of a glacier beyond the zone of accumulation where all of the snow from the previous winter melts, as does some of the glacial ice
zone of fracture
the upper portion of a glacier consisting of brittle ice
abrasion
the grinding and scraping of a rock surface by the friction and impact of rock particles carried by water, wind, or ice
seriations
grooves in the bedrock
glacial trough
a mountain valley that has been widened, deepened and straightened by a glacier
hanging valley
a tributary valley that enters a glacial trough at a considerable height above its floor
horn
a pyramid like peak formed by glacial action in three or more cirques surrounding a mountain summitt
cirque
an amphitheater shaped basin at the head of a glaciated valley produced by frost wedging and plucking
fiord
a steep sided inlet of the sea formed when glacial trough was partially submerged
arete
a narrow knifelike ridge separating 2 adjacent glaciated valleys
glacial drift
all sediments of glacial origin
morgines
layers or ridges of till