stream capture
Quick Summary
Stream capture, also known as stream piracy, occurs when a river or stream diverts the course of another stream, effectively capturing its drainage basin. This happens when one stream erodes its headwaters into the territory of another, more powerful stream. The invading stream then diverts the water from the captured stream into its own channel.12
This process is a principal mechanism in how river systems adjust their patterns over time. As a stream successfully captures more territory, it grows more powerful, increasing its discharge and allowing it to cut deeper into the landscape.2
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riverValleys and canyons…known as stream piracy, or stream capture. Piracy of a large river into another valley often creates a situation where the original expansive valley is later occupied by a river that is too small to have created such a large valley. The opposite case also may occur. The implication here…
Read More…known as stream piracy, or stream capture. Piracy of a large river into another valley often creates a situation where the original expansive valley is later occupied by a river that is too small to have created such a large valley. The opposite case also may occur. The implication here…
Read More- riverDrainage diversion by stream capture
A river system of appreciable size is likely to have undergone considerable changes in drainage area, network pattern, and profile and channel geometry. Adjoining streams compete with one another for territory. Although competition is effectively nil where divides consist of expanses of plateau…
Read MoreA river system of appreciable size is likely to have undergone considerable changes in drainage area, network pattern, and profile and channel geometry. Adjoining streams compete with one another for territory. Although competition is effectively nil where divides consist of expanses of plateau…
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