What direction does a river flow?
While it is true that most rivers flow south, some rivers actually flow from south to north. Since the direction of flow is influenced mostly by topography, some headwaters or sources (mountains) are located to the south of the mouth or destination. In this case, the river will flow in a northerly direction.
What is the difference between a river and a stream?
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) uses the term "streamflow" to refer to the amount of water flowing in a river. Although USGS usually uses the term "stream" when discussing flowing water bodies, in these pages we'll use "rivers" more often, since that is probably what you are more familiar with.
Do all rivers flow south?
This notion could be the popular myth that makes most people believe that all rivers flow south. While it is true that most rivers flow south, some rivers actually flow from south to north. Since the direction of flow is influenced mostly by topography, some headwaters or sources (mountains) are located to the south of the mouth or destination.
What is the stream order in geology?
The Stream Order. Geological Society of America Bulletin. When using stream order to classify a stream, the sizes range from a first-order stream all the way to the largest, a 12th order stream. A first-order stream is the smallest of the world's streams and consists of small tributaries.
What direction do streams flow?
4:056:24Determining Stream Flow Direction from a Topographic Map - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd that rule is that when contour lines cross a stream they Bend and they form this v-shape. NowMoreAnd that rule is that when contour lines cross a stream they Bend and they form this v-shape. Now the points of the v's are always going to point upstream.
Do all streams flow south?
While it is true that most rivers flow south, some rivers actually flow from south to north. Since the direction of flow is influenced mostly by topography, some headwaters or sources (mountains) are located to the south of the mouth or destination.
Do streams flow up or down?
In streams, water always flows downhill, but the form that downhill movement takes varies with rock type, topography, and many other factors. Stream erosion and deposition are extremely important creators and destroyers of landforms and are described in the Erosion and Deposition chapter.
Do rivers flow upstream or downstream?
Rivers tend to flow downstream, but sometimes they don't. Sometimes they flow sideways and sometimes they flow upstream!
Do any rivers flow north?
There are countless examples of rivers flowing northward. Some of the most famous are the world's longest river the Nile, along with Russia's Ob, Lena, and Yenisey Rivers. The Red River in the U.S. and Canada and Florida's St. Johns River also flow north.
Do all rivers flow from north to south?
Rivers flow in one direction all over the world, and that direction is downhill. Across the central and eastern United States, it is rare for rivers to flow north because the slope of the land is toward the south and east.
Do rivers flow uphill or downhill?
Normally, we think in of terms of water flowing downhill or from one place to another because of gravity, which is partially correct. Actually, water doesn't flow either downhill or uphill but follows the surface of the earth at any given location.
Do rivers ever flow uphill?
The starting point of all rivers is higher than their end point. However, under the right conditions, small amounts of water can be drawn upwards, against the tug of gravity, through a phenomenon known as "capillary action". For this to occur, however, the water must be confined into a small flow space.
What is the only river that flows backwards?
The Chicago RiverThe Chicago River Actually Flows Backwards.
Which river flows upwards?
Antarctica river There's a river that flows uphill beneath one of Antarctica's ice sheets, according to Robin Bell, a professor of geophysics at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in New York.
Does a river go upstream?
The term upriver (or upstream) refers to the direction towards the source of the river, i.e. against the direction of flow. Likewise, the term downriver (or downstream) describes the direction towards the mouth of the river, in which the current flows.
What is downstream and upstream flow?
Upstream means that the object is going opposite to the flow of the river. In this case you have to subtract the speed of the given object in still water from the speed of flow of the stream. Downstream means that the object is flowing along the river and in this case you have to add the speed.
What are the 3 types of streams?
One method of classifying streams is through physical, hydrological, and biological characteristics. Using these features, streams can fall into one of three types: perennial, intermittent, and ephemeral. Definitions and characteristics of each stream type are provided in this Appendix.
What are the 3 types of water flow?
Within a stream channel, three types flow can be observed:Laminar flow - water flow in the stream is not altered in its direction. Water flows as parallel molecular streams.Turbulent flow - water flows as discrete eddies and vortices. Caused by channel topography and friction.Helical flow - spiral flow in a stream.
What are the two types of river flow?
13 Different Types of RiversThe Perennial River. A perennial river is also called a permanent river. ... Periodic River. What is this? ... Episodic River. ... Exotic River. ... Tributary River. ... Distributary River. ... Underground River. ... Man-made Rivers (Aqueducts)More items...
What is headwater and what are some of its characteristics?
Headwaters are the source of a stream or river. They are located at the furthest point from where the water body empties or merges with another. Two-thirds of California's surface water supply originates in these mountainous and typically forested regions.
Streamflow and the Water Cycle
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Importance of rivers
Rivers are invaluable to not only people, but to life everywhere. Not only are rivers a great place for people (and their dogs) to play, but people use river water for drinking-water supplies and irrigation water, to produce electricity, to flush away wastes (hopefully, but not always, treated wastes), to transport merchandise, and to obtain food.
Streamflow is always changing
Streamflow is always changing, from day to day and even minute to minute. Of course, the main influence on streamflow is precipitation runoff in the watershed.
Hydrologists study streamflows with hydrographs
USGS uses a hydrograph to study streamflow in rivers. A hydrograph is a chart showing, most often, river stage (height of the water above an arbitrary altitude) and streamflow (amount of water, usually in cubic feet per second). Other properties, such as rainfall and water-quality parameters can also be plotted.
Precipitation influences streamflow
On Dec. 24, 2002, about two inches of rainfall fell in the Peachtree Creek watershed. This provides a good example to describe streamflow characteristics during a storm since the rain fell for only a few hours on that day and Peachtree Creek was at base-flow conditions before the rain started.
Mechanisms that cause changes in streamflow
Rivers are always moving, which is good for everything, as stagnant water doesn't stay fresh and inviting very long. There are many factors, both natural and human-induced, that cause rivers to continuously change:
Streamflow and global water distribution
Even though the water flowing in rivers is tremendously valuable to not only people but also to much of life on Earth, it makes up just a miniscule amount of Earth's water.
The USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) contains extensive surface-water data, both real-time and historical, for the nation
The USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) contains extensive surface-water data, both real-time and historical, for the nation.
Rivers, Streams, and Creeks
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What is a river?
A river forms from water moving from a higher elevation to a lower elevation, all due to gravity. When rain falls on the land, it either seeps into the ground or becomes runoff, which flows downhill into rivers and lakes, on its journey towards the seas. In most landscapes the land is not perfectly flat—it slopes downhill in some direction.
Rivers serve many uses
The Chattahoochee River, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The river serves many purposes, from drinking water to wildlife habitat to a recreation spot for the whole city.
Where does the water in rivers come from?
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Where does the water in rivers go?
Like everything else on (and in) the Earth, water obeys the rules of gravity and tries to get to the center of the Earth (did you imagine that every molecule in your body is trying to do this, also?). So, the water in rivers flows downhill, with the ultimate goal of flowing into the oceans, which are at sea level.
Explore Search
Below are other science topics associated with rivers, streams, and creeks.
What is the first through third order of a stream?
First- through third-order streams are also called headwater streams and constitute any waterways in the upper reaches of the watershed. Over 80% of the world’s waterways are estimated to be these first- through third-order or headwater streams. Going up in size and strength, streams that are classified as fourth- through sixth-order are medium ...
Why is stream order important in geography?
Because this area is so important, geographers, geologists, and hydrologists alike use stream order to study and measure the size of the world's waterways. A stream is classified as a body ...
What is stream order?
Stream order also helps people like biogeographers and biologists in determining what types of life might be present in the waterway. This is the idea behind the River Continuum Concept, a model used to determine the number and types of organisms present in a stream of a given size. More types of plants, for example, can live in sediment-filled, ...
What are large waterways called?
Large waterways (at the highest level the stream order) are called rivers and exist as a combination of many tributary streams. Streams can also have local names such as bayou or burn.
What is the smallest stream in the world?
A first-order stream is the smallest of the world's streams and consists of small tributaries. These are the streams that flow into and "feed" larger streams but do not normally have any water flowing into them. Also, first- and second-order streams generally form on steep slopes and flow quickly until they slow down and meet ...
What is the name of the body of water that flows across the Earth's surface?
A stream is classified as a body of water that flows across the Earth's surface via a current and is contained within a narrow channel and banks. Based on stream order and local languages, the smallest of these waterways are also sometimes called brooks and/or creeks. Large waterways (at the highest level the stream order) are called rivers ...
What happens when two streams of different order join?
If, however, two streams of different order join neither increases in order. For example, if a second-order stream joins a third-order stream, the second-order stream simply ends by flowing its contents into the third-order stream, which then maintains its place in the hierarchy.
Which two rivers flow north?
Another common misconception is that only two world’s rivers, St. Johns River (US) and River Nile (Africa), flow north. The truth is that the two rivers are examples of the many rivers that flow northwards. However, the exact number of the northward-flowing rivers has not been established.
Which direction do squid flow?
They often take a path with the least resistance, and this path can follow any direction, including south, north, west, or east, or other directions in between the four coordinates. The direction of flow is determined mostly by the area’s topography located between the headwater (origin) and mouth (destination).
Why do rivers flow downhill?
However, the truth is that, like all objects, rivers flow downhill because of gravity. They often take a path with the least resistance, and this path can follow any direction, including south, north, west, or east, or other directions in between the four coordinates. The direction of flow is determined mostly by the area’s topography located between the headwater (origin) and mouth (destination). Also, rivers not only follow one direction; some turn and twist in several directions.
What is the longest river in the world?
River Nile, the world’s longest river at 4,258 miles, is the longest northward-flowing river. The Nile has two main tributaries, White Nile (originating in South Sudan) and Blue Nile (Ethiopia). The two rivers meet in Sudan and flow northwards, through 10 other countries, into the Mediterranean Sea. Apart from the Nile, other rivers are Lena, Athabasca, Bighorn, Fox, Ob, and Red River. Theme and Danube River, Europe’s longest river, have several tributaries originating from the north. Below is a partial list of rivers (length listed when known) that run north. We have not listed rivers that run to the northwest.
How many rivers flow northward?
However, the exact number of the northward-flowing rivers has not been established. In the US, at least 48 rivers in 16 states flow north, including nine in Alaska and eight in Washington. According to some sources, South America has the highest number of northward-flowing rivers.
Do rivers follow one direction?
Also, rivers not only follow one direction; some turn and twist in several directions. It is important to note that a compass direction does not influence the flow of a river. Unfortunately, some people refer to uphill as north and river’s mouth as south. To them, the north must be higher than the south.
Do rivers flow south or north?
While it is true that most rivers flow south, some rivers actually flow from south to north. Since the direction of flow is influenced mostly by topography, some headwaters or sources (mountains) are located to the south of the mouth or destination. In this case, the river will flow in a northerly direction. Another common misconception is that ...
Introduction to USGS Streamgaging
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) started its first streamgage in 1889 on the Rio Grande River in New Mexico to help determine if there was adequate water for irrigation purposes to encourage new development and western expansion.
How Streamflow is Measured
As you're enjoying yourself sitting on the peaceful bank of a local river, one question you may ask yourself is "How much water is flowing in this river?" You've come to the right place for an answer.
Measuring stream stage
Most U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamgages measure stage and consist of a structure in which instruments used to measure, store, and transmit the stream-stage information are housed. Stage, sometimes called gage height, can be measured using a variety of methods.
The discharge measurement
Discharge is the volume of water moving down a stream or river per unit of time, commonly expressed in cubic feet per second or gallons per day. In general, river discharge is computed by multiplying the area of water in a channel cross section by the average velocity of the water in that cross section:
The stage-discharge relation
Streamgages continuously measure stage, as stated in the "Measuring Stage"" section. This continuous record of stage is translated to river discharge by applying the stage-discharge relation (also called rating).
Streamflow summary
Streamgaging involves obtaining a continuous record of stage, making periodic discharge measurements, establishing and maintaining a relation between the stage and discharge, and applying the stage-discharge relation to the stage record to obtain a continuous record of discharge.
