Question

What is the difference between stream competence and capacity? Define the two terms and relate them to stream grade and volume and use examples of the types of streams that demonstrate competence and capacity.

Answer 1

Question

Stream capacity is ability of the stream to carry solid particles per unit of time whereas stream competence is the measure of stream ability to transport the particles according to their size. The difference between these two terms are : stream competence measure the particles size of sediments and capacity is ability to measure the quantity of sediments. Such sediments examples are clay, pebble, sand etc. For example, the river competance can be consider as a maximum particle size that could be transported by it. River capacity could be defined as the laod that could river transport from one place to another.