Stream order
In the context of watersheds within Geographic Information Systems (GIS), stream order refers to the hierarchical classification of streams or river segments within a river network. Understanding stream order is fundamental in watershed analysis and hydrological modeling, as it helps in comprehending the structure, connectivity, and behavior of river systems within a watershed. Stream Order and Watershed Analysis: Strahler Stream Order: Strahler stream order is a common method used to categorize streams within a watershed based on their position in the river network hierarchy. It assigns numerical values to streams to indicate their relative position within the drainage system. Stream Order Hierarchy: Headwater streams, which originate at the highest elevations and have no tributaries, are assigned a stream order of 1. When two first-order streams merge, they form a second-order stream. When two second-order streams merge, they create a third-order stream, and so on. At confluences, th...