Formative Assessment 3: Channel Systems

Instructions

Write up a 1 page document (including your screen shots) answering the following questions.

1. Use Google Earth or a similar map program to find

a) a single-threaded channel with low sinuosity (relatively straight),Hint: These are relatively common.

b) a single-threaded channel with high sinuosity (lots of meander bends), Hint: Look in southern Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.

c) a braided channel with unvegetated bars and, Hint: Try British Columbia, Canada or Southern Alaska.

d) an anastomosing channel with vegetated islands. Hint: These may be the hardest to find. Look for multi-threaded reaches with large, vegetated bars. Try the Tonle Sap River in Cambodia, or the Murray River in southeastern Australia.

Submit screen shots (4 total) of the different channel types you find. If you don't find one or more of the river types in the area you are searching in the first few minutes, move to an entirely different geo-climatic zone and search for a few more minutes. What channel type do you come across most often? Which area(s) did you look at? What channel type do you come across most often? Approximately what is the stream order for each of the channels you captured as screen shots (i.e., are they first or second order channels? fifth order? tenth order?)? What other relevant observations did you make about the stream network while virtually flying around?

Worksheet

There is no worksheet. This assignment is a paper.

Submitting Your Assignment

Bring your typed and printed assignment to class.

Scoring and Rubric

Each answer will earn a maximum of 25 points, as described in the rubric below.