What are drainage patterns?

The drainage patterns are formed by the water courses such as streams, lakes, etc. It indicates the type of topography and the gradient of the land. It is majorly segregated into two types, discordant topography, and concordant topography. Various factors influence the type of drainage patterns such as the geographical structure, slope of the land, velocity of water, etc. Drainage System of India What are the types of Drainage Patterns?

What are the types of drainage patterns?

The drainage patterns are influenced by various factors such as the topography of the land, slope etc which leads to its various types. It is majorly segregated into two patterns, concordant and discordant drainage patterns. Discordant Drainage Pattern : The drainage patterns that are not influenced by the topography and the slope of the areas, follow their initial path even after witnessing alterations in the course. It is further segregated into antecedent and superimposed drainage. Concordant Drainage Pattern – It is likely to be influenced by the topography and slope of the land. It is also segregated into two patterns, which are consequent and subsequent systems. The consequent system has a general direction of the slope, while the subsequent system is formed after the flow of the river.

Does the number of drainage channels affect the drainage pattern?

Yes, the number of drainage channels also influences the drainage pattern. The sloppy surfaces usually create fewer drainage channels, resulting in a coarser drainage pattern .

What are the types of Concordant drainage patterns?

The concordant drainage patterns are influenced by the slope of the land and the topography. There are major two divisions of the concordant drainage pattern which are subsequent and consequent drainage pattern. They are further divided into other types which are as listed here. The types of drainage patterns are dendritic, trellis, rectangular, and radial patterns.

Where is the dendritic drainage pattern prevalent?

The dendritic drainage pattern holds a high resemblance with the branching roots of the tree. It is formed in a region having high homogenous material. Some examples include parts of British Columbia, Indus, and Ganga.

What types of drainage pattern are found in the Western Ghats of India?

A parallel drainage pattern is found in the Western Ghats of India . The parallel drainage pattern is prevalent in the areas where there are steep slopes having some degree of relief.

What are the types of discordant drainage patterns?

The discordant drainage pattern is not influenced by the topography and the geology of the area. It follows the initial path devoid of the alterations witnessed on the slope. It is further segregated into two types that are Antecedent drainage and superimposed drainage. Antecedent Drainage – The drainage pattern that follows the initial flow, devoid of the elevations in the slope. It cuts through the elevated parts also called vertical erosion or vertical downcutting. Superimposed Drainage – It is erosive in action, and follows the initial slope. Examples are Damodar, Subarnarekha, and Chambal.

What are antecedent drainage patterns?

The discordant drainage pattern follows the initial slope and is unaffected by the alterations in the path. It is also well known as “inconsequent drainage”. It makes its way through the elevated portions through vertical erosion. Examples of antecedent drainage are Indus, Sutlej, Himalayan, and Brahmaputra Rivers.

What is superimposed drainage?

The discordant drainage pattern that follows the initial path, is erosive in action. The most common examples of the superimposed river are Damodar, Subarnarekha, Chambal, Banas etc.

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Drainage Pattern – Superimposed, Antecedent, Consequent Types of Drainage Pattern

By BYJU'S Exam Prep

Updated on: November 14th, 2023

A drainage pattern is created over time by stream erosion, revealing characteristics of the region, for example, the type of rocks or geological structures in the landscape. The drainage pattern is formed by lakes, streams, and rivers in a specific drainage basin. Drainage is a well-defined channel constructed to direct the flow of water. A network of these channels is called a drainage system. There are various types of drainage patterns such as trellis drainage, parallels drainage, dendritic drainage, rectangular drainage, and deranged drainage.

A myriad of factors governs the drainage pattern. Some of them are geological structure, the topography of the land, velocity of water, volume of water, etc. Drainage channels are easier to develop on surfaces that are least resistant to erosion and have an enhanced runoff. Gain complete cognizance of the drainage pattern such as the definition, meaning, and other details.

Table of content

1. Definition Of Drainage Pattern
2. Types of Drainage Patterns
3. Drainage Pattern Notes

Definition Of Drainage Pattern

The drainage pattern is formed by the water bodies such as streams and lakes. The drainage patterns indicate the type of topography and gradient of the land. It is influenced by geographical structure, the slope of the land, the velocity of water, the amount of volume of water, etc. The drainage patterns are segregated into two main types.

Concordant Drainage Pattern
Discordant Drainage Pattern

Types of Drainage Patterns

There are numerous types of drainage patterns that are influenced by various factors, which leads to their segregation into different types. The discordant and concordant types of drainage patterns differ based on whether the topology of the drainage pattern correlates to the topology of the area.

Discordant Drainage Pattern

The discordant drainage pattern does not correlate and is not influenced by the topology and geology of the area. The water courses that follow the discordant drainage pattern follow the initial path even after the alterations witnessed in the topography. It is further segregated into two parts which are Antecedent drainage and superimposed drainage.

Antecedent Drainage

The segment of the river slope is elevated but the river follows the initial slope.
It cuts the elevated portions or parts that cut through the elevated part, called vertical erosion, or vertical down cutting.
It is renowned as “inconsequent drainage”.
Examples- Indus, Sutlej, Himalayan, Brahmaputra rivers

Superimposed Drainage

It is renowned to be as “superinduced drainage“, and “epigenetic drainage.”
It is erosive in action, cuts the rocks, and follows its initial slope.
Examples- Damodar, Subarnarekha, Chambal, Banas etc.

Concordant Drainage Patterns

In concordant drainage patterns, the path of the river is highly influenced by the slope of the river and its topography. It is segregated into two types of drainage patterns such as consequent drainage pattern, and subsequent pattern.

The consequent system is developed by the general direction of the slope. The subsequent river system is formed after the flow of the river on that path.

Trellis Drainage

The channels look similar to garden trellis. It develops in areas where the sedimentary rocks have been tilted or folded and then eroded. For example, the Appalachian Mountains of North America.

Parallels Drainage Patterns

It develops in areas that have elongated, similar landforms, and similar to outcropping-resistant rock bands.

The pattern is caused due to steep slopes with a certain degree of relief. The steep slopes make the streams straight and swift, with minimal tributaries.

Dendritic Drainage

It is perhaps the most well-known Drainage Pattern. The pattern resembles the branching of tree roots.

Only develops in regions underlain by homogenous material, which means the geology beneath the stream has no specific structure and is weathering resistant. There is no control over the direction of erosion.

Rectangular Drainage Pattern

They are found in areas that have undergone faulting. The surface has minimal topography and a combination of bedding planes, faults, or fractures that forms a rectangular pattern.
Streams follow the least resistant path, making them prominent in locations where the surface rocks are weak.

Deranged Drainage

They are formed from the disruption of a prior Drainage Pattern. For instance, a dendritic pattern can be disrupted due to external reasons, leading to the formation of a deranged pattern. Example- Canadian shield

Radial Drainage Patterns

It forms around a central elevated location. The pattern appears similar to Volcanoes. Laccoliths and domes are geological structures that exhibit perfect radial Drainage Patterns.

Angular Drainage

They are developed in reassigns where faults and bedrock joints intersect at an extremely acute angle. The angles are comparatively more acute than rectangular Drainage Patterns.

Centripetal Drainage

This pattern is the opposite of the radial Drainage Pattern. It flows towards a central depression.
It is prominent in southwestern and western areas of the United States as the basins show internal drainage systems.

The drainage patterns are categorized based on texture and form. Geologists, hydrologists, and other professionals take a deep interest in studying these patterns as it gives us vital information about the land.

Drainage Pattern Notes

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Drainage Pattern PDF

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UPSC Notes
Wetlands in India	Grassland Ecosystem
Indus River System	Local Winds
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River System in India	West Flowing Rivers in India