1.
The differences between a stream’s competence and capacity are-
a) Competence is the maximum particle size a stream can transport where capacity is the
total amount of sediments a stream can carry.
b) Competence depends on the speed and turbulence of a stream where capacity depends
on a stream’s discharge and sediment load.
2. We know that,
Discharge D = The cross-sectional area of the stream × Velocity of water
= (30 × 3.5) m3/s
= 105 m3/s (Ans)
3. Due to urbanization, water won’t be able to get into the ground. The water would be
channeled through drainage system into the river. This would lead to increase in water
amount and discharge of river. Also, construction and cutting down trees would cause soil
erosion. This would also create lose sediments. So, the rivers discharge and sediment load
would increase due to urbanization. Also, in the future, if extreme rainfall or cyclones
happen the river discharge rate will increase drastically and there would be frequent
flooding. Also the course of the river and discharge rate can change significantly.
4. How climate change can might alter the hydrology of a river system in a temperate region
is discussed below:
a) Rise of sea level can shorten river lengths or may even be the cause of deletion of
rivers near coastal regions.
b) Due to climate change floods and cyclones will be more extreme day by day. In the
future, an extreme flood can alter the path of a river.
c) Due to sediment deposition by extreme floods many rivers can lose their water flow
and become extinct.
d) Due to climate change, more and more river erosion will occur.
e) The streamflow might increase or decrease depending on which type of extreme
natural conditions occur. The course of a river can also change drastically.
These changes might impact the river’s ecosystem and human activities in the following
ways:
a) If rise of sea level consumes the rivers, then marine ecosystems will replace the
existing ecosystem of rivers. This would also cause humans to lose their land and
home.
b) If a river alters its path due to extreme flooding, the new course of river will destroy
human properties and existing natural ecosystems in its path. However, there will
most likely stay a smaller river in the original path of the river. The existing
ecosystem of the river may suffer due to less amount of water and resources.
c) Many rivers can go extinct in which case the ecosystems will be destroyed and also
humans will be affected as rivers contribute a lot to the development and livelihood of
a human habitat.
d) Due to river erosion, millions of people will lose their land property and become
homeless.
e) Depending on the change of streamflow of a river, the ecosystem might also be
affected. However, it is less likely that the ecosystem will be affected if the course of
a river is changed.
5. The water content causes the weathering and erosion of the slope. Excessive erosion or
faster erosion than mass movements reduce the slope stability. Water can also enter into
soil or solid rocks. If this happens and the water is not drained out completely, it can
reduce slope stability by creating pressure. This can also add extra weight on the slope
causing it to become less stable. Furthermore, water in the rocks or soil could potentially
weaken the structure of the slope.
If due to the above reasons, a stable slope loses balance, mass movement occurs. This is
because the slope loses stability and fails to maintain its structure. So, water content can
cause slope failure which will cause mass movements. Furthermore, heavy rainfall or
snowmelt can cause landslides, mudflows, slumps or avalanches.
6. Slope stability means that the state of the slope is constant. If the slope changes, then it
loses its stability. Materials are constantly trying to go downslope due to gravity. This is
known as the driving force. Friction, cohesion, internal strength of materials and other
factors resist the mass movement and thus are known as resisting forces. If the driving
forces are less than or equal to the resisting forces, than the slope is stable.
Slope fail occurs if the driving forces are greater than the resisting forces. One
natural event that can trigger slope failure is rainfall.
The slope angle is the angle that a surface is tilted at respective to the
horizontal axis. The dip angle is the angle at which a rock layer or a
geological feature incline respective to the horizontal axis. If the dip direction
is towards the slope surface, it is more likely that a slope failure will happen.
So the difference between the slope angle and dip angle should be 0° to ensure
maximum stability. And the difference between slope angle and dip angle has
to be 90° for minimum stability of a slope.
7. In the wildfire of the hillside, significant vegetation has been lost. Now, the roots of the
vegetation provided cohesion which is important for slope stability. Due to this, the
structure of the hill has also become significantly weak. If rainfall happens, then it is very
likely that landslides will take place. Vegetation also played an important role in
absorbing the water from the soil. Now the water from rainfall has nowhere to go. Also,
in a high temperature wildfire, a hydrophobic layer can form in the hillside. This could
create a rapid runoff of water from the rain and potentially cause mudflows. So, a wildfire
increases the likelihood of mass movements such as landslides and mudflows
significantly.
