how do rivers convey earth materials to the ocean? if the “objective” of all these landscape...
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HOW DO RIVERS CONVEY EARTH MATERIALS TO THE OCEAN?If the “objective” of all these landscape shaping processes is to take earth materials from high
locations and deposit it in low locations (flatten the landscape) how does the material get from the highlands to the oceans?
DEEPERSLOWER
DEEPERSLOWER
SHALLOWERFASTER
REALITY: Irregular bed , with varying depths of flow. In order to pass the required volume of water down the river, the water has to accelerate through the shallower sections t0 compensate for the decrease in depth.
CONSERVATION OF MASSThe Volume of Water (cubic feet, cubic meters), or DISCHARGE, passing cross cross-section 2 every second (Q2), must equal the Volume passing cross-section 1 every second (Q1) as the river passes water from one stretch to the next down towards the ocean.
So, Q2 = Q11.
2.
Cross-section 2
Cross-section 1
CONSERVATION OF MASS
1.
2.
Cross-section 2
Cross-section 1
The Volume of Water (cubic feet, cubic meters), or DISCHARGE, passing cross cross-section 2 every second (Q2), must equal the Volume passing cross-section 1 every second (Q1) as the river passes water from one stretch to the next down towards the ocean.
So, Q2 = Q1
Volume is expressed in units of Length (L) cubed (L3).“per unit second” is a measure of Time (T)Therefore DISCHARGE has units of L3T-1.
CONSERVATION OF MASS
1.
2.
Cross-section 2
Cross-section 1
The DISCHARGE at cross-section 2 is calculated as the product of the cross- sectional area, A2 (L2),and velocity of flow, V2 (LT-1) at that point.
Thus Q2 = A2 . V2 or [L2 . LT-1 = L3T-1]
WD
CONSERVATION OF MASS
1.
2.
Cross-section 2
Cross-section 1
The DISCHARGE at cross-section 2 is calculated as the product of the cross- sectional area, A2 (L2),and velocity of flow, V2 (LT-1) at that point.
Thus Q2 = A2 . V2 or [L2 . LT-1 = L3T-1]
Cross-sectional area is some product of width, W2 and depth, D2.
A2 = W2 . D2
WD
CONSERVATION OF MASS
1.
2.
Cross-section 2
Cross-section 1
The DISCHARGE at cross-section 2 is calculated as the product of the cross- sectional area, A2 (L2),and velocity of flow, V2 (LT-1) at that point.
Thus Q2 = A2 . V2 or [L2 . LT-1 = L3T-1]
Cross-sectional area is some product of width, W2 and depth, D2.
A2 = W2 . D2
And therefore
Q2 = W2 . D2 . V2
WD
CONSERVATION OF MASS
1.
2.
Cross-section 2
Cross-section 1
CONSERVATION OF MASS STATES THAT:
Q1 = Q2 Or
WD1
W1 . D1 . V1 = W2 . D2 . V2
D2
CONSERVATION OF MASS
1.
2.
Cross-section 2
Cross-section 1
CONSERVATION OF MASS STATES THAT:
Q1 = Q2 Or
WD1
W1 . D1 . V1 = W2 . D2 . V2
If D2 is less than D1 (i.e. the river is shallower, then W2 and/or V2 must increase to compensate so that Q1 stiil equals Q2 . So the river must be wider and/or faster flowing at cross section 2 than cross section 1.
D2
CONSERVATION OF MASS
1.
2.
Cross-section 2
Cross-section 1
CONSERVATION OF MASS STATES THAT:
Q1 = Q2 Or
WD1
W1 . D1 . V1 = W2 . D2 . V2
If D2 is less than D1 (i.e. the river is shallower, then W2 and/or V2 must increase to compensate so that Q1 stiil equals Q2 . So the river must be wider and/or faster flowing at cross section 2 than cross section 1.
Rivers are therefore constantly widening/narrowing, Speeding up/slowing down, getting deeper/shallower as they proceed towards the ocean. Their HYDRAULIC GEOMETRY is always changing.
D2
FINE MATERIAL
HEAVIERMATERIAL
DURING FLOOD – VELOCITY INITIATES MOTION. FINE MATERIAL TRANSPORTED OUT OF SECTION. HEAVIER MATERIAL CONTINUOUSLY ERODED AND DEPOSITED.
Dams
River Input
Potential Energy
Kinetic Energy drives turbines
Lower the position of the outflow and turbines and the potential energy and ability to provide electricity during prolonged droughts (i.e, useable water stored) increases. However the chances of clastic material fouling the turbines also increases.
Dams
River Input
Potential Energy
Kinetic Energy drives turbines
Raise the position of the outflow and turbines and the potential energy and ability to provide electricity during prolonged droughts (i.e, useable water stored) decreases. Mreanwhile the chances of clastic material fouling the turbines has decreased.
Above the DamFast flowing, often mountainous, river input carries a variety of clasts into reservoir.
Above the DamFast flowing, often mountainous, river input carries a variety of clasts into reservoir.
As water enters reservoir its velocity drops so the largest clasts are deposited.
Above the DamFast flowing, often mountainous, river input carries a variety of clasts into reservoir.
The progressively lighter clasts get carried further into the reservoir fore being deposited, creating a DELTA.
Above the DamFast flowing, often mountainous, river input carries a variety of clasts into reservoir.
The progressively lighter clasts get carried further into the reservoir fore being deposited, creating a DELTA.
Sediment deposited in DELTA takes up potentially valuable storage space
Above the Dam
Steep slope of the delta beneath the surface is prone to “landslides” which send denser water-sediment mixtures down the bed of the reservoir as TURBIDITY CURRENTS.
Published by AAAS
J. Bohannon Science 327, 1444-1447 (2010)
BELOW THE DAM
Aswan High Dam and Laker Nasser created in the 1960s to provide electricity and water to irrigate the desert of Egypt and Sudan
Published by AAAS
J. Bohannon Science 327, 1444-1447 (2010)
BELOW THE DAM
Sediment which had previously flowed all the way down to the Nile Delta, replenishing soil and fertility.
Published by AAAS
J. Bohannon Science 327, 1444-1447 (2010)
BELOW THE DAM
Dam also used to store waters which had for thousands of years periodically flooded the Nile Delta. Dams for reduction of flood hazard.
Published by AAAS
J. Bohannon Science 327, 1444-1447 (2010)
BELOW THE DAM• Soil lost due to
agriculture on Delta is no longer replaced annually.
Published by AAAS
J. Bohannon Science 327, 1444-1447 (2010)
BELOW THE DAM• Soil lost due to
agriculture on Delta is no longer replaced annually.
• The absence of annual inundation has dried out the soils, causing them to also shrink.
Published by AAAS
J. Bohannon Science 327, 1444-1447 (2010)
BELOW THE DAM• Soil lost due to
agriculture on Delta is no longer replaced annually.
• The absence of annual inundation has dried out the soils, causing them to also shrink.
• Net result is that Delta is becoming lower and therefore, a) more susceptible to flooding by Mediterranean (exacerbating potential sea level rise),.
Published by AAAS
J. Bohannon Science 327, 1444-1447 (2010)
BELOW THE DAM• Soil lost due to
agriculture on Delta is no longer replaced annually.
• The absence of annual inundation has dried out the soils, causing them to also shrink.
• Net result is that Delta is becoming lower and therefore, a) more susceptible to flooding by Mediterranean (exacerbating potential sea level rise), and b) Salt water intrusion is making many areas too saline for agriculture.
Published by AAAS
J. Bohannon Science 327, 1444-1447 (2010)
BELOW THE DAM
THERE ARE ABOUT 66,000 DAMS ON RIVERS IN THE UNITED STATES.
“Streamlines”
CONSERVATION OF ENERGYEnergy cannot be created or destroyed but it can
change the form in which it is manifested
“Streamlines”Fixed Energy, E.
BERNOULLI 1. Kinetic Energy2. Potential Energy3. Mechanical Energy
(Pressure)
“Streamlines”Fixed Energy, E.
BERNOULLI 1. Kinetic Energy2. Potential Energy3. Mechanical Energy
(Pressure)
E = V + P + M
“Streamlines”Fixed Energy, E.
BERNOULLI 1. Kinetic Energy2. Potential Energy3. Mechanical Energy
(Pressure)
E = V + P + M
Air forced over wing upper surface
and accelerated
“Streamlines”Fixed Energy, E.
BERNOULLI 1. Kinetic Energy2. Potential Energy3. Mechanical Energy
(Pressure)
E = V + P + M
Pot↑ Vel↑ Press↓
“Streamlines”Fixed Energy, E.
BERNOULLI 1. Kinetic Energy2. Potential Energy3. Mechanical Energy
(Pressure)
E = V + P + M
Lower Pressure
Higher Pressure
“Streamlines”Fixed Energy, E.
BERNOULLI 1. Kinetic Energy2. Potential Energy3. Mechanical Energy
(Pressure)
E = V + P + M
Lower Pressure
Higher PressureLI
FT
HOW DOES THE VELOCITY OF FLOW VARY WITH DEPTH?
FLOW
Time = 1
High FlowVelocities
Low FlowVelocities
LIFT