What is Drainage Pattern?
The discharge of water through a definite medium is known as drainage, and the arrangement of such channels is known as a drainage system. The drainage pattern of an area is the result of the geological period, structure and nature of the rocks, slope, topography, amount of flow of water, and the periodicity of flow. Drainage patterns are generally classified based on their nature or form. Read the article to know what is an antecedent rivers and the different types of drainage patterns of India.
Important Drainage Patterns of India
The drainage pattern that looks similar to the tree branches is termed the dendritic drainage pattern, the example of which is the river flows through the northern plain.
When the stream or river emerges from a hill and flows in all directions, the drainage pattern is known as the radial drainage pattern in India. The best example of a radial drainage pattern is the river originating from the Amarkantak range.
When the major tributaries of a river flow side by side or parallel to each other and a secondary tributary joins them at right angles, the drainage system is known as a trellis drainage pattern in India.
When the water is discharged by rivers from all directions, the drainage pattern is known as the centripetal drainage pattern.
Drainage Pattern in India: Two Types
The drainage pattern in India is classified into two categories based on the formation of river patterns.
The two types of drainage patterns in India are:
Discordant Drainage Pattern. Still, due
Concordant Drainage Pattern
What is Discordant Drainage Pattern?
A discordant drainage pattern is a type of drainage system that does not relate to the topography and geology of the area.
Discordant drainage patterns are split into antecedent and superimposed drainage system while anti position drainage pattern combines both.
The discordant drainage pattern is further divided into the following types:
Antecedent Drainage
Superimposed Drainage
Types of Discordant Drainage Pattern with Example
Antecedent Drainage
The drainage pattern was previously present before a period of uplift and holdings form the present structure. As the uplift occurs, the rivers were able to vertically cut down approximately at the same rate and so maintain their same course. The process is known as antecedent and the drainage system hence developed is known as antecedent drainage.
Antecedent Drainage Example
The Indus, Satluj, Brahmaputra are a few examples of antecedent drainage.
Superimposed Drainage
In superimposed drainage, a drainage system initially forms on a surface made up of small rocks, but due to the erosion activities the surface of small rocks is eroded, and the river continues to flow over a conceivably new surface certainly made up of rocks of old geological formation.
Superimposed Drainage Example
The Chambal, The Banas, The Damodar, The Subernekha are few examples of superimposed drainage.
What is Concordant Drainage Pattern?
A concordant drainage pattern is a type of drainage system that relates to the topography and geology of the area.
The concordant drainage pattern is further divided into the following types:
Dendritic Drainage Pattern
Radial Drainage Pattern
Trellis Drainage Pattern
Rectangular Drainage Pattern
Parallel Drainage Pattern
Types of Concordant Drainage Pattern with Example
Dendritic Drainage Pattern
The dendritic drainage pattern is most frequently found and resembles the branching pattern of tree roots. The dendritic drainage pattern is formed in regions dominated by homogeneous material. Tributaries in dendritic drainage pattern join large streams at an acute angle (less than 90 degrees).
Dendritic Drainage Pattern Example:
The dendritic drainage pattern in India is commonly found in the rivers like the Ganga- Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, etc. These rivers have different tributaries and form structures that seem like branches of trees.
(Image will Be Updated Soon)
Radial Drainage Pattern
The radial drainage pattern in India develops when a river originates from a hill and flows in all directions. In a radial drainage pattern, the stream diverges outward from centrally high points. Volcanoes generally exhibit an excellent radial drainage pattern. Other geological features that generally develop radial drainage patterns are laccoliths and domes. The radial drainage pattern develops when the stream flows in a different direction from the central peak or dome-like structure.
Radial Drainage Pattern Example:
The best example of radial drainage pattern in India is observed by the rivers like Mahanadi, Son, and Narmada originating from Amartanak hills and flowing in different directions.
(Image will be Uploaded soon)
Trellis Drainage Pattern
The trellis drainage system looks similar to their name, the common garden trellis. This type of drainage pattern develops in folded topography like that observed in the Appalachian Mountains of North America. In this type of drainage pattern, short tributary streams penetrate into the primary channel at steep angles as they move downsides of parallel ridges known as anticlines. Here, tributaries join the main streams at nearly right angles.
Trellis Drainage Pattern Example:
The old folded mountain of (Chotanagpur Plateau) follows a trellis drainage pattern.
(Image will Be Updated Soon)
Rectangular Drainage Pattern
Rectangular drainage patterns are most frequently seen where the topography is very less and retains a system of bedding planes, fractures, or faults that forms a rectangular network. In this specific drainage pattern, the primary stream deviates at a right angle, and tributaries join at a right angle forming a rectangular pattern.
Rectangular Drainage Pattern Example
The rectangular drainage pattern can be found in the Arun river in Nepal.
(Image will Be Updated Soon)
Parallel Drainage Pattern
The parallel drainage pattern is a pattern consisting of several rivers that form a regional slope and are parallel to each other. The pattern is more frequently found in newly emerged coastal plains.
Parallel Drainage Pattern Example
The Eastern and Western coastal plains of India exhibit several examples of parallel drainage patterns.
(Image will Be Updated Soon)
FAQs on Drainage Pattern of India
1. What is an antecedent river?
The river that maintains its initial course with an explosion of landmass and construction of the mountain is termed an antecedent river. The antencdnrt river ensures to maintain its initial course despite the upliftment of land. The Indus, Brahmaputra, Sutlej, Kosi, Subanisiri, etc., are some examples of antecedent rivers in India.
2. Which drainage pattern was formed by the Ganga river system?
The drainage pattern formed by the Ganga river system is Dendrites. The Dendritic drainage pattern is formed where the river channel follows the slope of the terrain. The stream along with its tributaries resembles the branches of a tree, hence the name dendrites. Dendrites of tree shape drainage patterns are commonly found on the Earth's surface.
3. Which river has a trellis pattern in India?
Trellis patterns in India are found in the rivers in the upper part of the Himalayan region.
4. Godavari river has which type of drainage systems?
The drainage system formed by the Godavari river system is Dendrites.
5. What are the four common types of drainage patterns?
The four common types of drainage patterns are radial, trellis, Dendrites, and rectangular.
6. What are the factors that affect drainage patterns?
The factors that affect drainage patterns include the geological time period, topography, slope, amount of water flowing, and periodicity of water flow.
7. What is an angular drainage pattern?
Angular drainage patterns are formed where bedrocks are joints and faults intersect at more acute angles than rectangular drainage patterns. Angles can be both more and less than 90 degrees.
