Channel (geography)

While channel typically refers to a natural formation, the cognate term canal denotes a similar artificial structure.

Channel initiation refers to the site on a mountain slope where water begins to flow between identifiable banks.

Soil composition, vegetation, precipitation, and topography dictate the amount and rate of overland flow.

The composition of a soil determines how quickly saturation occurs and cohesive strength retards the entrainment of material from overland flows.

[1] Vegetation slows infiltration rates during precipitation events and plant roots anchor soil on hillslopes.

[1] Channel heads associated with hollows in steep terrain frequently migrate up and down hillslopes depending on sediment supply and precipitation.

Channels also describe the deeper course through a reef, sand bar, bay, or any shallow body of water.

The channel form is described in terms of geometry (plan, cross-sections, profile) enclosed by the materials of its bed and banks.

For erodible channels the mutual dependence of its parameters may be qualitatively described by Lane's Principle (also known as Lane's relationship):[2] the product of the sediment load and bed Bukhara size is proportional to the product of discharge and channel slope.

[6] The term not only includes the deep-dredged ship-navigable parts of an estuary or river leading to port facilities, but also to lesser channels accessing boat port-facilities such as marinas.