Factors responsible for fluvial processes and landforms

Factors responsible for Fluvial processes and landforms

Channel Factors - (control the energy and flow of the river)

• Channel shape - a smaller wetter perimeter per cross-sectional area is more effecient (hydraulic radius)
• Channel size - larger channels are more efficient
• Roughness - the rougher the bed the lower the energy
• Gradient - a flatter gradient creates lower energy
• Load - a heavy load means little spare energy
• Base level - rising base level (usually the sea) means less energy
• Type of flow - turbulent flow uses energy
• Hydrography - flashy hydrographs (sudden rise in flow) mean more energy

…