Running Waters: Rivers, Streams and Trickles

Abstract

Running and standing waters may be differentiated as follows:

• (a) A consistently unidirectional current is found in all running waters, but not to any degree in standing waters.

• (b) Stratification rarely occurs in running waters (due to the current), but is a characteristic feature of many standing waters.

• (c) In running waters, physical and chemical conditions change gradually from source to mouth, and the difference in many factors may be great between these. Conditions in standing waters are normally much more homogeneous.

• (d) Running waters are normally shallow and have long, often complex, narrow channels. Standing waters may reach great depths, but mostly have simple broad basins.

• (e) Constant erosion is characteristic of running waters, and materials so removed may be transported considerable distances, often right out of the catchment concerned. Erosion does occur in standing waters, but is rarely severe; eroded materials usually remain within the same basin.

• (f) As a further consequence of erosion and deposition, most running waters increase the length of their channels with age, as cutting back to the source and meandering on the flood plain proceed; in standing waters, materials are constantly being deposited, tending to fill in the basin and eventually obliterate it completely.

• (g) Currents in running waters are normally stronger than those in standing waters.