Author Question: What are distributaries, and why do they form? What will be an ideal ... (Read 31 times)

fnuegbu

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 539
What are distributaries, and why do they form?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Describe three basic flood control strategies.
 
  What will be an ideal response?



mrphibs

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 307
Answer to Question 1

A distributary is a stream channel that branches off and flows away from the main channel. They form as deltas grow outward, and the stream's gradient continually lessens. This eventually causes the channel to become choked with sediment, and the river seeks a shorter, higher-gradient route to base level.

Answer to Question 2

Artificial levees are built to increase the volume of water a channel can hold, they are higher and steeper than the natural levees that border the channel. Flood control dams store floodwater and then let it out slowly, which lowers the flood crest by spreading it out over a long time span. Channelization is the alteration of a stream channel to speed up the flow velocity to prevent water level from reaching flood height.



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
 

Did you know?

The first successful kidney transplant was performed in 1954 and occurred in Boston. A kidney from an identical twin was transplanted into his dying brother's body and was not rejected because it did not appear foreign to his body.

Did you know?

Signs of depression include feeling sad most of the time for 2 weeks or longer; loss of interest in things normally enjoyed; lack of energy; sleep and appetite disturbances; weight changes; feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, or worthlessness; an inability to make decisions; and thoughts of death and suicide.

Did you know?

Women are 50% to 75% more likely than men to experience an adverse drug reaction.

Did you know?

The average human gut is home to perhaps 500 to 1,000 different species of bacteria.

Did you know?

In inpatient settings, adverse drug events account for an estimated one in three of all hospital adverse events. They affect approximately 2 million hospital stays every year, and prolong hospital stays by between one and five days.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library