GL 107 Earth Systems Science

K. Hannula

Discussion questions for 10/18/06

1. How do geologists use the term "reservoir"?

The term "reservoir" refers to any place where the substance in question is stored, even for tiny amounts of time. So earth's water resides in reservoirs that include the atmosphere, the oceans, and rivers, as well as man-made lakes.

2.  Which reservoir contains the greatest proportion of water on earth?  Which reservoir contains the greatest proportion of fresh liquid water?

3.  Define the following terms:

4.  How does discharge typically change down the length of a river?

Discharge usually increases downstream in a river, because tributaries add additional water to the main stream.

5.  What are the differences between bed load, suspended load, and dissolved load of a stream?

6.  What determines the maximum size of particles a river can carry?

The velocity controls the size of particles a river carries.

7.  What determines the maximum amount of sediment (maximum load) a stream can carry?

The discharge controls the amount (or load) of sediment a stream carries.