In 6-8 sentences, explain how stream volume and speed affect the size, shape
and
flow of streams and rivers. Use evidence from the Water Erosion Lab and Virtual
Stream Table Activity to support your claims. Connect your claims and evidence
with compelling reasoning related to available energy and stream competence and
capacity
Stream volume and speed have a significant influence on the size, shape, and flow of streams and rivers. The Water Erosion Lab and Virtual Stream Table Activity provide compelling evidence to support this claim.
Firstly, higher stream volume and speed contribute to increased erosive power. Streams with greater volume and speed have more available energy to transport and erode sediment. This can result in the widening and deepening of the stream channel, leading to a broader and deeper river.
Furthermore, the increased energy of streams with higher volume and speed allows them to carry larger and heavier sediment. As a result, the stream channel may become more channeled and streamlined. This phenomenon is observed in the Water Erosion Lab, where higher water volumes erode the clay soil more effectively, resulting in a deeper and narrower channel.
Additionally, stream volume and speed influence the type of sediment that can be transported. Higher volumes and speeds enable streams to transport larger and denser particles, which can reshape the streambed and alter its flow. The Virtual Stream Table Activity illustrates how varying stream velocities lead to different sediment sizes. Slower velocities allow finer sediment to settle, resulting in a smoother streambed, while higher velocities carry coarser sediment, leading to a rougher channel.
Moreover, stream competence and capacity are directly related to stream volume and speed. Competence refers to the maximum particle size a stream can transport, while capacity represents the total amount of sediment it can carry. According to the available energy concept, streams can only transport sediment that matches their competence. If the stream volume and speed exceed the stream's competence and capacity, it will deposit excess sediment, causing the stream channel to change shape and potentially create bars and islands.
In conclusion, stream volume and speed play a crucial role in shaping and flowing streams and rivers. The Water Erosion Lab and Virtual Stream Table Activity provide evidence that stream volume and speed impact erosion, sediment transport, and stream capacity. By understanding the relationship between available energy and stream competence and capacity, we can appreciate how stream dynamics are influenced by these factors.