What occurs whenever a stream slows down, leading to a reduction in sediment competence?

When a stream slows down, the kinetic energy of the water decreases, which impacts its ability to transport sediment. As the water's velocity diminishes, the stream's sediment competence—its capacity to carry sediment—is reduced. This leads to the process known as deposition, where sediment begins to settle out of the water column and accumulate in the streambed or along the banks.

Deposition occurs because the energy of the moving water is no longer sufficient to keep the sediment particles suspended, particularly the heavier or larger particles. As a result, they drop out of transport and settle. This process is vital in shaping riverine landscapes, contributing to the formation of features such as riverbanks, sandbars, and deltas. Understanding this process is key when studying sediment dynamics and riverine geomorphology.

Other terms related to sediment transport, such as sorting, traction, and saltation, describe different aspects of sediment movement but are not directly related to what happens when a stream's speed decreases significantly. Sorting refers to the separation of particles by size during transport, traction involves the movement of larger particles along the streambed, and saltation describes the bouncing movement of smaller particles. While all these processes are relevant in sediment transport, they each represent different phenomena occurring