Stream load refers to rock and other materials that a stream carries. These materials can include sediment, sand, silt, rocks, and even organic matter like leaves and branches. The stream load plays a crucial role in shaping the stream channel and the landscape over which the stream flows.
There are three main types of stream load:
1. **Dissolved Load**: Consists of minerals and other dissolved substances carried by the stream. These are not visible and are dissolved in the water.
2. **Suspended Load**: Consists of fine particles like silt and clay that are carried along in the water, giving the water a muddy appearance.
3. **Bed Load**: Consists of larger particles like sand, pebbles, and rocks that are transported along the stream bed by rolling, sliding, or bouncing.
The stream load is influenced by factors such as the stream's velocity, volume of water, and the slope of the stream channel. As the stream flows, it erodes, transports, and deposits sediment, leading to changes in the stream's characteristics and the surrounding landscape.
