Answer:
Drainage patterns refer to the ways in which rivers and streams organize themselves within a landscape as they flow downhill and carry water to larger bodies of water, like lakes or oceans.
Step-by-step explanation:
There are four primary drainage patterns:
- Dendritic Pattern: This is the most common drainage pattern, characterized by a branching network resembling the branches of a tree. It occurs when a river or stream follows the path of least resistance, eroding through softer rock or sediment while avoiding harder materials. Dendritic patterns often develop in regions with uniform geology.
- Radial Pattern: In a radial pattern, rivers or streams flow outward from a central high point, like spokes on a wheel. This often occurs on conical mountains or volcanoes. Water flows down the slopes in all directions away from the summit.
- Rectangular Pattern: This pattern forms when streams or rivers flow along lines of fault or fracture in the landscape. The streams often take on a right-angle pattern, creating a grid-like appearance. This is more common in regions with a well-defined joint or fault system.
- Trellis Pattern: A trellis pattern features parallel main rivers or streams with shorter tributaries that flow perpendicular to them. This pattern often develops in regions with alternating layers of resistant and less resistant rock. The main rivers erode along the softer rock layers, and the tributaries develop along the harder layers.
These drainage patterns are a result of the interplay between the geology, topography, and erosion processes in a particular area. They provide insights into the underlying geological features and history of a landscape.