Changes

[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Tributary.jpg|right|frame]]

[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Tributary.jpg|right|frame]]

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_century 14th Century]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_century 14th Century]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1: a ruler or [[state]] that pays [[tribute]] to a [[conqueror]]

*1: a ruler or [[state]] that pays [[tribute]] to a [[conqueror]]

*2: a [[stream]] feeding a [[River|larger stream]] or a [[lake]]  

*2: a [[stream]] feeding a [[River|larger stream]] or a [[lake]]  

==Description==

==Description==

A '''tributary''' or affluent is a stream or [[river]] that [[flows]] into a main stem (or parent) [[river]] or a [[lake]]. A tributary does not flow directly into a [[sea]] or [[ocean]]. Tributaries and the mainstem river serve to drain the surrounding [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drainage_basin drainage basin] of its surface water and groundwater by leading the water out into an ocean or sea.

A '''tributary''' or affluent is a stream or [[river]] that [[flows]] into a main stem (or parent) [[river]] or a [[lake]]. A tributary does not flow directly into a [[sea]] or [[ocean]]. Tributaries and the mainstem river serve to drain the surrounding [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drainage_basin drainage basin] of its surface water and groundwater by leading the water out into an ocean or sea.

A [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confluence confluence], where two or more bodies of [[water]] meet [[together]], usually refers to the joining of tributaries.

A [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confluence confluence], where two or more bodies of [[water]] meet [[together]], usually refers to the joining of tributaries.

[[Reciprocal]] to a tributary is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributary distributary], a river or stream that branches off from and [[flows]] away from the main stream. Distributaries are most often found in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_delta river deltas].

[[Reciprocal]] to a tributary is a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributary distributary], a river or stream that branches off from and [[flows]] away from the main stream. Distributaries are most often found in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_delta river deltas].

'Right tributary' and 'left tributary' (or 'right-bank tributary' and 'left-bank tributary') are [[terms]] stating the orientation of the tributary [[relative]] to the [[flow]] of the mainstem river. These terms are defined from the [[perspective]] of looking downstream (in the [[direction]] the water current of the main stem is going).

'Right tributary' and 'left tributary' (or 'right-bank tributary' and 'left-bank tributary') are [[terms]] stating the orientation of the tributary [[relative]] to the [[flow]] of the mainstem river. These terms are defined from the [[perspective]] of looking downstream (in the [[direction]] the water current of the main stem is going).

Where tributaries have the same name as the [[river]] into which they feed, they are called '''forks'''. These are typically designated by compass direction. For example, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_River American River] receives [[flow]] from its north, middle, and south forks.

Where tributaries have the same name as the [[river]] into which they feed, they are called '''forks'''. These are typically designated by compass direction. For example, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_River American River] receives [[flow]] from its north, middle, and south forks.

Forks are sometimes designated as right or left. Here, the "handedness" is from the [[point of view]] of an [[observer]] facing upstream. For instance, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steer_Creek_(West_Virginia) Steer Creek] has a left tributary which is called Right Fork Steer Creek.

Forks are sometimes designated as right or left. Here, the "handedness" is from the [[point of view]] of an [[observer]] facing upstream. For instance, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steer_Creek_(West_Virginia) Steer Creek] has a left tributary which is called Right Fork Steer Creek.

Tributaries are sometimes listed starting with those nearest to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source_(river_or_stream) source of the river] and ending with those to those nearest to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_delta mouth of the river]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strahler_Stream_Order Strahler Stream Order] examines the arrangement of tributaries in a [[hierarchy]] of first, second, third, and higher orders, with the first order tributary being typically the least in size. For example, a second order tributary would be the result of two or more first order tributaries combining to form the second order tributary.

Tributaries are sometimes listed starting with those nearest to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source_(river_or_stream) source of the river] and ending with those to those nearest to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_delta mouth of the river]. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strahler_Stream_Order Strahler Stream Order] examines the arrangement of tributaries in a [[hierarchy]] of first, second, third, and higher orders, with the first order tributary being typically the least in size. For example, a second order tributary would be the result of two or more first order tributaries combining to form the second order tributary.

Another [[method]] is to list tributaries from mouth to source, in the form of a tree structure, stored as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_(data_structure) tree data structure].  

Another [[method]] is to list tributaries from mouth to source, in the form of a tree structure, stored as a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_(data_structure) tree data structure].  

[[Category: Earth Science]]

[[Category: Earth Science]]