The letters following each Review Question refer to the corresponding Learning Objective from the Chapter Opener. What are the three components of sediment load in a stream? (B)

Sediment load is the total amount of solid material, such as sand, silt, and clay, that is transported by a stream. It is a crucial factor in stream dynamics, as it can influence the shape and behavior of the water channel, and it is an essential parameter in various environmental processes.

The sediment load in a stream consists of three main components: (1) suspended load, (2) bedload, and (3) dissolved load.

(1) Suspended load: This component refers to the fine-grained particles (such as clay and silt) that are suspended in the water column due to the turbulence and flow velocity of the stream. They are carried along with the flow without settling down to the bottom. (2) Bedload: This component refers to the coarse-grained particles (such as sand, gravel, and larger rocks) that are transported along the streambed. They typically move by rolling, sliding, or hopping/bouncing along the bottom, driven by the force of water. (3) Dissolved load: This component refers to the soluble substances, such as various minerals and ions originating from rock weathering and other sources, that are dissolved in water. They are transported in the stream as invisible components and may precipitate later downstream or be utilized by organisms in the stream ecosystem. In conclusion, the three components of sediment load in a stream are suspended load, bedload, and dissolved load. Each of them plays a vital role in shaping the stream's morphology and influencing diverse environmental processes.