Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Geology, Palaeontology & Archaeology => Topic started by: Makiyo781 on 11/04/2005 00:28:39

Title: How do you think snow helps to form rivers?
Post by: Makiyo781 on 11/04/2005 00:28:39
How do you think snow helps to form rivers?
Title: Re: How do you think snow helps to form rivers?
Post by: tweener on 11/04/2005 19:49:26
It melts into water, enough of which makes a river.

----
John - The Eternal Pessimist.
Title: Re: How do you think snow helps to form rivers?
Post by: Ultima on 11/04/2005 22:42:53
Would glaciers come into this at all?

wOw the world spins?
Title: Re: How do you think snow helps to form rivers?
Post by: tweener on 18/04/2005 19:09:36
If the snow doesn't melt from year to year, then a glacier is formed.  Glaciers also flow, but slowly compared to water.  When they get to a point they melt, then the water runs off into a river (or the sea, depending on where the glacier is located).

----
John - The Eternal Pessimist.
Title: Re: How do you think snow helps to form rivers?
Post by: Quantum cat on 18/04/2005 22:57:58
Snow melts, and runs away in the steepest gradientit can find. The water erodes the soil/rock and a deeper higher gradient is formed. eventually so much is eroded is forms a long cavity where all the water goes and voila you have a spring river.
Title: Re: How do you think snow helps to form rivers?
Post by: Exodus on 19/04/2005 10:52:20
quote:
Originally posted by Quantum cat

Snow melts, and runs away in the steepest gradientit can find. The water erodes the soil/rock and a deeper higher gradient is formed. eventually so much is eroded is forms a long cavity where all the water goes and voila you have a spring river.


gradient is not the only factor to consider... the hardness of the lithology is also key, easily eroded material will also divert water flow...