A stream load refers to solid matter carried by a stream (Strahler and Strahler, 2006). There are three components of stream load include: dissolved load, suspended load and bed load.
The dissolved load is invisible and it is transported as chemical ions resulting from chemical alteration of minerals or seepage of groundwater into the stream. The suspended load consists of fine sediments transported through the stream that too large to be dissolved into solution and too small to lie on the bed of the stream. Such materials include clay and salt result from hydraulic action at the stream surface borders as well as erosion of the stream channel itself. They are transported down the stream by suspension. The bed load consist of the heaviest and largest materials in the stream. They include sand, gravel, boulders and cobbles that roll slowly on the bed of the stream (Strahler and Strahler, 2006).
Saltation and traction
Saltation and traction affects how the load is transported by the stream. In saltation small pebbles and stones are bounced along the river bed. These pebbles dislodge the bedrock and heavier particles through friction leading to more suspended load. Traction involves rolling and scooping of heavier particles on the stream bed. These particles hit against themselves disintegrating into smaller particles to create suspended load (Strahler and Strahler, 2006).
Flooding
Flooding occurs when the stream flow and velocity are high due to a drastic addition of water to a stream (Knighton, 1998). There are three types of floods: coastal flood, fluvial flood and pluvial floods. Coastal floods happen in areas adjacent to the coast of sea, ocean or any other large body of open water and are as a result of extreme weather. Fluvial floods are also called river floods and occur as a result of excessive rain over a period causing the river to exceed its capacity. Pluvial floods are also called surface flooding caused by an event independent of an overflowing water body (Knighton, 1998).
Flooding occurs when humans interfere with natural channels of water flow through buildings. Flooding can be reduced in urban areas by proper urban planning, the creation of “sponge cities” and creating floodplains. Proper urban planning involves creation of adequate drainage systems in urban areas by understanding the topography of urban areas. Creation of sponge cities plan is whereby cities collect and store excess rainwater rather than funneling it away. Water is used for flushing toilets, irrigation and even purified for drinking. Creation of floodplains along rivers is a water management and nature conservation strategy. Floodplains retain and absorb water shielding nearby towns from flooding (Knighton, 1998).
References
Knighton, David. (1998). Fluvial Forms " Processes: A New Perspective, London: Arnold.
Strahler, A. and A. Strahler. (2006). Introducing Physical Geography, Boston: Wiley " Sons.
