What does carrying capacity mean compared to competence of a stream? In hydrology stream competency, also known as stream competence, is a measure of the maximum size of particles a stream can transport. Stream capacity, while linked to stream competency through velocity, is the total quantity of sediment a stream can carry.
What is Stream capacity and competence?
Stream competence reflects the ability of a stream to transport a particular size of particle (e.g., boulder, pebble, etc). With regard to calculation of stream capacity and competence, streams broadly include all channelized movement of water, including large movements of water in rivers.
What is carrying capacity in biology?
Carrying Capacity Explained In biology, the concept of carrying capacity relates the number of organisms which can survive to the resources within an ecosystem. Ecosystems cannot exceed their carrying capacity for a long period of time.
What is the relationship between stream competence and grain size?
As stream competence increases, the D 50 (median grain size) of the stream also increases and can be used to estimate the magnitude of flow which would begin particle transport. Stream competence tends to decrease in the downstream direction, meaning the D 50 will increase from mouth to head of the stream.
How does stream competence vary with the volume of runoff?
Stream competence can vary proportionally to the volume of runoff, which varies seasonally with greater runoff volume in flood times and lesser runoff volume in other than seasonal flood times.
What is the difference between capacity and competence of a stream?
Stream competence depends on stream velocity (as shown on the Hjulstrom diagram above). The faster the current, the heavier the particle that can be transported. Stream capacity is the maximum amount of solid load (bed and suspended) a stream can carry.
What is meant by stream competence?
In hydrology stream competency, also known as stream competence, is a measure of the maximum size of particles a stream can transport. The particles are made up of grain sizes ranging from large to small and include boulders, rocks, pebbles, sand, silt, and clay.
What is the carrying capacity of a stream?
Literally, the carrying capacity of a stream is the amount of sediment it can transport under the given flow conditions. This is generally a descriptive term not used for quantitative statements of rates and amounts of sediment discharge, and its use is generally discouraged.
What is the difference between capacity and competence in science?
is that competence is (uncountable) the quality or state of being competent, ie able or suitable for a general role while capacity is the ability to hold, receive or absorb.
What is the difference between capacity and competence geology quizlet?
Capacity is the maximum load of solid particles a stream can transport per unit of time, whereas competence is a measure of a stream's ability to transport particles based on size rather than quantity.
What factor determines the competence of a stream?
what factor determines the competence of a stream? the competence of a stream is determined by the size of the particle that the stream can carry and move, and then is explained by the diameter of the biggest particles that are able to be moved.
What is the competence of a stream quizlet?
Competence of a stream measures the largest PARTICLES it can transport. A stream's competence increases with it velocity. The competence of a stream increases 4 times-when the velocity doubles. Capacity is the maximum LOAD it can carry.
What determines a rivers competence?
River Competence - Rivers and streams carry sediment that ranges in size from clay (smallest) to boulders (biggest). The "competence" of a river or stream refers to the largest particles that a river can transport.
What is the relationship between the carrying capacity of a stream and its discharge and velocity?
The greater the discharge and velocity is in a stream, the greater the stream's carrying capacity.
What is the difference between competence and capability?
Competence has become a somewhat outdated and passive term. It refers to a person's current state and to them having the knowledge and skills necessary to perform a job. Capability is about integrating knowledge and skills and adapting and flexing to meet future needs.
What determines decision-making capacity and competence?
Capacity and competency — Capacity describes a person's ability to a make a decision. In a medical context, capacity refers to the ability to utilize information about an illness and proposed treatment options to make a choice that is congruent with one's own values and preferences.
What is competency and capacity in a contract?
Having the capacity to contract means the person entering into the contract has a legal competence. This means they are competent to perform the act they're agreeing to in the contract. A person must have a sound mind to get in this situation.
What is stream capacity?
Stream capacity is the total quantity of sediment that a stream can carry, move, transport. Streams of water carry sediment. Each stream has a capacity for what can be carried by the volume and velocity (force) of water being channelized. Stream competence is the size of sedimentary particle that can be carried, moved, ...
What is the major factor affecting stream capacity and stream competence?
Under normal circumstances, since channelized streams are influenced by the force of gravity, the major factor affecting stream capacity ( quantity of sediment) and stream competence (sediment particle size) is channel slope. Channel slope derives the measurement of stream gradient.
What is stream competence?
Stream competence is the size of sedimentary particle that can be carried, moved, transported in a channelized stream of water. Each stream has a competency for what size of sedimentary particle it can move by its force (volume and velocity). This competency may change as stream volume and flow of velocity change due to seasonal flooding ...
Why does a stream gain enough competence to carry particles as large as "pebbles, cobbles and boulder
Because of increased competence, the stream may gain enough competence to carry particles as large as "pebbles, cobbles and boulders" ( Gale Cengage ). If the stream is not confined, then channelization broadens and volume and velocity do not increase resulting in no increase of capacity or competence. Sources:
What is a stream?
A stream is defined as all channelized movement of water, including large movements of water in rivers, such as the Yangtze River and the Mississippi River. Channel, channelized and channelizing are defined as the eroded pathway that the stream of water follows and the fact of these waters following eroded pathways.
What happens to the stream when channelization increases?
As channelization increases, the others decrease: a broad channel has low velocity, lower capacity and lessened competence. Conversely, a narrow channel has high velocity, higher capacity and greater competence. Channelization also affects the stream load, which is related to stream discharge.
What is the relationship between stream load and velocity?
Since stream load is directly related to velocity/capacity/competence, the higher the velocity, the greater the sum of the mass of sedimentary material that can be transported by the stream load.
What is stream competency?
In hydrology stream competency, also known as stream competence, is a measure of the maximum size of particles a stream can transport. The particles are made up of grain sizes ranging from large to small and include boulders, rocks, pebbles, sand, silt, and clay. These particles make up the bed load of the stream.
What is the relationship between vegetation and stream?
Vegetation-vegetation interaction. Build-up of vegetation carried by streams eventually cuts off-flow completely to side or main channels of a stream. When these channels are closed, or opened in the case of a breach, the flow characteristics of the stream are disrupted.
How does vegetation affect stream flow?
A disruption in flow will result in lower velocities, leading to a lower stream competence. Vegetation has a 4-fold effect on stream flow: resistance to flow, bank strength, nucleus for bar sedimentation, and construction and breaching of log-jams.
What is the process of sediment transport?
The movement of sediment is called sediment transport. Initiation of motion involves mass, force, friction and stress. Gravity and fri ction are the two primary forces in play as water flows through a channel. Gravity acts upon water to move it down slope.
What is the difference between turbulent and laminar flows?
Flows are characterized as either laminar or turbulent. Low-velocity and high- viscosity fluids are associated with laminar flow , while high-velocity and low-viscosity are associated with turbulent flows. Turbulent flows result velocities that vary in both magnitude and direction. These erratic flows help keep particles suspended for longer periods of time. Most natural channels are considered to have turbulent flow.
Does stream competence depend on velocity?
Stream competence does not rely solely on velocity . The bedrock of the stream influences the stream competence. Differences in bedrock will affect the general slope and particle sizes in the channel. Stream beds that have sandstone bedrock tend to have steeper slopes and larger bed material, while shale and limestone stream beds tend to be shallower with smaller grain size. Slight variations in underlying material will affect erosion rates, cohesion, and soil composition.
What is the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?
Definition. Carrying capacity is the number of organisms that an ecosystem can sustainably support. An ecosystem’s carrying capacity for a particular species may be influenced by many factors, such as the ability to regenerate the food, water, atmosphere, or other necessities that populations need to survive.
What is an example of a situation in which the carrying capacity of an environment was exceeded?
North American Deer Flourish. An example of a situation in which the carrying capacity of an environment was exceeded can be seen within the deer populations of North America. After the widespread elimination of wolves – the natural predator of North American deer – the deer reproduced until their need for food exceeded ...
How did the world's capacity to carry humans change?
A new revolution in Earth’s capacity to carry humans began in the 18th and 19th centuries when humans began to apply advanced and automated technology to agriculture. The use of inventions such as the mechanical corn picker and crop rotation – a way of growing different crops in a sequence that enriches the soil and leads to higher yields – allowed humans to produce even more food. As a result, the world population tripled from about half a billion to 1.5 billion people.
Can an ecosystem exceed its carrying capacity?
Ecosystems cannot exceed their carrying capacity for a long period of time. In situations where the population density of a given species exceeds the ecosystem’s carrying capacity, the species will deplete its source of food, water, or other necessities. Soon, the population will begin dying off. A population can only grow until it reaches ...
Definition
- Gravity is the influence that drives the water channeled downhill in streams. A stream is defined as all channelized movement of water, including large movements of water in rivers, such as the Yangtze River and the Mississippi River. Channel, channelized and channelizing are defined as the eroded pathway that the stream of water follows and the fact of these waters following eroded …
Characteristics
- The stream flow velocity (i.e., speed of a quantity of material past a given point during a specific time interval) of a stream of water is directly related to the channel slope of the stream. The greater the slope, the higher the flow velocity; the lesser the slope, the lower the flow velocity. Examples are the greater slope of the Colorado River flowing through the Grand Canyon and the …
Scope
- Since water streams flow in channels under the influence of gravity, channelization is also a critical component affecting stream capacity (quantity) and stream competence (size), which are both directly related to stream flow velocity. Conversely, channelization and capacity/competence/velocity are indirectly related. As channelization increases, ...
Formation
- Alluvial fans result from depositation with the broadening channelization of mountain streams when they descend to the mountain base. Alluvial fans form when mountain streams channeling runoff reach low gradient (low channel slope) flattening of the land. Alluvial fans may flow into a larger body of water, like a lake or an ocean, but not all do. When the stream gradient (derived fr…
Selected publications
- \"Stream Capacity and Competence.\" World of Earth Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. Vol. 2. Gale Cengage, 2003.