Drainage patterns. Explore The 3 Major Types

In this post shall discuss the three main categories of Drainage patterns found at the different parts of the world.

• A drainage pattern refers to the total network formed by the river and its tributaries over the surface of the earth.
• There are three types of drainage patterns namely:

a) Dendritic drainage
b) Trellis drainage
c) Radial drainage

Dendritic Drainage Patterns

• The word dendritic comes from a Greek word ‘Dendron’ which means ‘tree’
• Dendritic or tree like drainage pattern developed on homogenous rock or beds of equal resistance.
• The initial stream that exists as a consequence of the slope is called the consequent stream.
• If the rocks are composed of homogeneous beds of uniform resistance to erosion, the tributaries will join the main valley obliquely as in sequent streams.

Trellis or rectangular drainage pattern

 This forms when faulting causes rectangular rock joining on which rivers develop.
 The tributaries join the main streams at right angles (900).
 The drainage pattern which will be developed will be rectangular in shape and is called trellis drainage pattern.
 Trellised or rectangular drainage pattern developed on alternating outcrops of harder and softer rocks

Radial drainage pattern

 This is develops on a dome shaped landforms such as volcanic or glaciated hills from which rivers radiate into different.
 It appears just like the spokes of the bicycle wheel
 An example of radial drainage pattern is on Mount Egmont in North Island, New Zealand