When does a stream become a river?
Jonathan A. Czuba, George H. Allen
Abstract
Abstract The distinction between a “stream” and “river” is imprecise and vague despite the popular usage of the terms across disciplines for describing flowing waterbodies. Based on an analysis of named flowing waterbodies in the continental United States, we suggest a bank‐to‐bank channel width of 15 m as a working threshold in defining smaller “streams” from larger “rivers.”
Topics & Concepts
STREAMSChannel (broadcasting)Hydrology (agriculture)Stream restorationEnvironmental scienceCurrent (fluid)BankGeologyComputer scienceGeomorphologyOceanographyTelecommunicationsGeotechnical engineeringComputer networkHydrology and Sediment Transport ProcessesHydrology and Watershed Management StudiesSoil erosion and sediment transport