Match each feature created by erosion to the correct description | a channel of connected grooves created by runoff stream one of many channels that connect to form a river tributary a small groove in soil created by runoff gully CH a series of connected channels that fills with water
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Matching:
- Rill — a small groove in soil created by runoff
- Gully — a channel of connected grooves created by runoff stream
- Tributary — one of many channels that connect to form a river
- Channel — a series of connected channels that fills with water
Explanation
Erosion by running water shapes the landscape by carving out various features, each with specific characteristics depending on the volume and persistence of water flow.
Rills are the smallest features formed by water erosion on soil surfaces. They appear as tiny grooves or shallow channels, typically only a few centimeters deep and wide. These grooves form when surface runoff flows over loose soil, concentrating the water flow and causing small-scale erosion. Because of their size, rills are often seen after rainfall on bare or disturbed soil before vegetation regrows.
When runoff continues to flow and the grooves deepen and widen, these rills may develop into gullies. Gullies are larger and deeper channels compared to rills and represent a more severe form of erosion. They can be tens of centimeters to meters deep and wide. Gullies can form rapidly during heavy rains and can significantly alter the landscape by removing large amounts of soil. Gullies can eventually evolve into small valleys if erosion continues over time.
A channel is a broader term describing a path or depression through which water flows. In the context of erosion, a channel is typically a continuous pathway carved by flowing water that carries runoff, rivers, or streams. These channels can be dry or filled with water depending on the conditions. The channel’s shape and size depend on the volume of water it carries and the type of soil or rock it erodes.
A tributary is a smaller stream or river that flows into a larger river. Tributaries are part of a branching system of waterways, where many smaller channels connect and contribute water to the main river channel. Tributaries play a crucial role in collecting and transporting runoff from various parts of the watershed to larger rivers.
Together, these features illustrate the process of water erosion from small-scale rills to large-scale river systems, showing how runoff shapes and connects the landscape.
