Which factors most directly control a river channel pattern?

Correct answer: Gradient, sediment load and discharge

Correct answer: A. A river channel pattern develops from the interaction of water energy, channel slope, sediment supply, bank strength, and discharge. Gradient affects potential energy and often influences velocity. Discharge affects the amount of water and the ability to erode and transport material. Sediment load, especially its amount and grain size, influences whether bars build and whether a channel becomes braided, while bank cohesion helps determine whether a river migrates in meanders. A is correct because it names three direct controls. B, C, and D contain features that do not provide the principal physical controls on ordinary channel pattern. A useful memory cue is E-S-D: energy from slope, sediment supply, and discharge.