Make Predictions

Question

Using what you have learned about stream competence and capacity, use the questions below to make some predictions

Suppose a stream has a high volume but a low gradient . How might the stream change the land? Provide your reasoning.

Answer 1

If a stream has a high volume but a low gradient, it means that the stream has a large amount of water flowing through it, but the slope of the stream channel is relatively gentle. In this case, it is likely that the stream will have a high stream competence but a low stream capacity.

Stream competence refers to the ability of a stream to transport sediment and other materials, while stream capacity refers to the amount of sediment and materials that a stream can transport. A high volume of water combined with a low gradient means that the stream will have enough force to carry larger and heavier sediment particles, but it may not have enough energy to transport them over long distances.

Therefore, the stream with high volume but low gradient would likely have a limited ability to erode and transport larger sediment particles. It is more likely to deposit sediments along its banks and floodplain, causing the formation of wide channels and possibly creating floodplains with rich sediment deposits. Over time, this can lead to the development of meandering channels and the formation of depositional landforms such as natural levees or braided channels.

In summary, in a stream with a high volume but a low gradient, the stream is expected to deposit rather than erode sediment, leading to the formation of depositional landforms along its course.