Name:___________________________________________
Date:___________________________
River Discharge
1. Define “river”:
2. How do streams get much of their water? Rivers? What is the relationship between the two
terms?
3. Define “discharge”. Be sure to include how discharge is measured. Explain the measurement of
volume. Why is it a cubic measure?
4. How do you estimate the stream’s discharge? Write the equation and give an example.
5. Answer the question at the bottom of page 3. Record your answers here.
a. :
b. :
6. When referring to stream banks, the left and right banks are labeled based on what criterion?
Answer the question within the text and move to page 5.
7. What variables are measured in stream discharge? What instruments are used?
8. What part of the stream is flowing fastest? Make an educated guess as to why you believe your
answer to be true. Record your answer here.
9. On page 8, read to find out the answer. Were you right? How is average velocity measured?
10. On pages 9 and 10 copy the data carts and record your answers. Explain how average velocity is
determined.
11. After completing the graph on page 12, make a sketch of the curve –remember to label your
graph properly.
12. Complete the calculations on pages 13-17. Record all of your answers below.
a. Page 13: Determining average velocity
b. Page 14: 6/10’s rule
c. Page15: Practice calculations of 6/10’s rule
d. Page 16:
e. Page 17:
13. What is the Six tenths rule? How is it used? Why is it good estimation of stream velocity
relative to depth?
14. After completing page 18, define meander.
How are meanders produced in a stream system?
15. After reading about stream/river features list and define the features found in a stream/river:
a. :
b. :
c. :
d. :
e. :
Record your answers to question 1-7
16. How are verticals used to calculate basic information about streams? Pages 19-21
17. Complete your conversions and save your certificate!
18. After completing River discharge, list what you’ve learned about the following:
a. What variables impact the velocity of a river?
b. What is the relationship between velocity and river depth?
c. What factors might contribute to an increase in a river’s discharge? A decrease in a
river’s discharge?