Paper 1 · drainage basin morphometry
In geomorphology, drainage pattern and drainage density describe different aspects of a river network. Which statement correctly distinguishes between them?
ADrainage pattern is the total length of streams per unit area, while drainage density is the geometric arrangement of streams in plan view.
BDrainage pattern refers to the number of tributaries a river has, while drainage density refers to the river's total discharge.
CDrainage pattern is the geometric arrangement of streams in plan view, such as dendritic or trellised, while drainage density is the total length of streams per unit area of land.
DDrainage pattern and drainage density both measure the same underlying property of a river network, just expressed at different map scales and using different units of measurement.
Explanation: Drainage pattern describes the geometric arrangement of a river network in plan view (e.g. dendritic, trellised, radial), largely reflecting underlying rock structure, while drainage density is the total length of streams per unit area (km per km²), reflecting how finely dissected the landscape is by channels. They measure distinct properties, not the same thing at different scales.
Derived from ZIMSEC Geography Paper 1, November 2003, Q4
