Topic 3: Geomorphology
Mr K Whitlock (2022)
, Drainage System in South Africa
1
2 Fluvial Processes
3 Catchment and River Management
CONTENT
,Chapter 01 Important concepts
1
02 Types of rivers
03 Drainage patterns
04 Drainage density
05 Stream order and density on topographic maps
06 Discharge of a river (stream flow)
, UNIT 1: Important concepts
• In matric we look at how rivers shape the
earth via different actions
• Water may come directly from rainfall or
snowmelt or from surface run-off
o This is water flowing downhill over the land
• It also may come from groundwater bubbling
the surface as springs
• Water seeps into the earths soil by filtration, w
saturates the soil on the crust we call this the
saturated zone
• The water table is the upper part of this zone
o Above the water table is an aerated zone, meanin
air in the soil
• The area drained by the river system or stream
network is called a drainage basin
Mr K Whitlock (2022)
, Drainage System in South Africa
1
2 Fluvial Processes
3 Catchment and River Management
CONTENT
,Chapter 01 Important concepts
1
02 Types of rivers
03 Drainage patterns
04 Drainage density
05 Stream order and density on topographic maps
06 Discharge of a river (stream flow)
, UNIT 1: Important concepts
• In matric we look at how rivers shape the
earth via different actions
• Water may come directly from rainfall or
snowmelt or from surface run-off
o This is water flowing downhill over the land
• It also may come from groundwater bubbling
the surface as springs
• Water seeps into the earths soil by filtration, w
saturates the soil on the crust we call this the
saturated zone
• The water table is the upper part of this zone
o Above the water table is an aerated zone, meanin
air in the soil
• The area drained by the river system or stream
network is called a drainage basin
