Erosion
The process by which sediment and other materials are moved from one place to another
Gradient
The measure of the change in elevation over a certain distancce
Deposition
The process by which eroded material is dropped.
Load
Materials carried by a stream
Discharge
The amount of water that a stream carries in a given amount of time
What things cause erosion
Flowing water, wind, ice, and gravity
What are the three main factors that control what sediment a stream can carry
Gradient, discharge, and load
Channel
The path that a stream follows
What landforms can streams create
Streams, canyons, and valleys
Floodplain
A flat area formed by many layers of deposited sediment
Meander
Curves and bends that form a twisting,, looping pattern in a stream channel
Oxbow Lake
Crescent-shaped lake formed by a cut-off meander
Groundwater
The water located within the rocks below Earth’s surface
Delta
A fan shaped pattern that streams deposit their loads in
Alluvial Fan
A fan-shaped deposit that forms on dry land
Stalagmites
Water that drips from cracks in a cave’s ceiling leaves behind icicle-shaped deposits
Sinkhole
A circular depression that occurs when a cave collapses
Shoreline
The place where land and a body of water meet
Beach
An area of shoreline that is made up of material deposited by waves and currents
Sandbar
An underwater or exposed ridge of sand, gravel, or shell material
Barrier Island
A long, narrow island, usually made of sand, that forms parallel to the shoreline a short distance offshore
How are caves formed
Due to groundwater erosion
Currents
Stream-like movements of water
What forces shape a shoreline
The currents and waves of the ocean water
