Fluvial System
The Fluvial System in a Piedmont Zone
Fluvial and glacial geology are two of the foremost important systems and concepts in geomorphology. Both systems work in a variety of different ways to sculpt landscapes all around the world. The book The Fluvial System by Stanley Schumm focuses on those aspects of the fluvial system and how they have changed the world around us over the past few centuries. Schumm has spent the majority of his life studying and experimenting with the processes of fluvial erosion and transport and with the amount of data and historical evidence provided it seems his hypothesis and theories are correct until proven otherwise.
In order to understand the fluvial system three things must be know. The quantity and type of sediment, the manner water is supplied from the source area, and the geologic and climatic processes that effect the sediment and water supply. Another key point is to be aware of upstream effects of downstream channel behavior and changes of base levels. The entire fluvial system is separated in three zones pointing towards the downstream direction. Figure 1-1 shows how each are divided and the direction of flow. Zone 1 is the uppermost zone and refers to the production, or drainage basin, watershed, and sediment-source zone. This is where the sediment is derived and produced. Many watershed scientist and hydrologist focus on this zone in order to understand the evolution and growth of drainage systems. Zone 2 is the transfer zone; in a stable channel the deposition of sediment would equal the output. Hydraulic and river-control engineers study this zone to understand river-channel morphology through time. Zone 3 is the deposition
Knoblock 2
sink or area of deposition. The deposition zone may appear as an alluvial fan, alluvial plain, delta, or may be deposited into deeper waters. This zone is mostly studied by sediment geologist and coastal engineers because of the internal structure,...
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