stream ordering

Stream ordering is a method used by scientists to classify the hierarchy of streams and rivers. Imagine a network of connected waterways: small streams, called first-order streams, have no tributaries flowing into them. When two first-order streams meet, they form a slightly larger stream, called a second-order stream. When two second-order streams join, the resulting stream remains second-order unless a first-order joins, which then increases the order. This system helps map and study water flow patterns, habitat sizes, and ecological processes, providing a clear way to understand how smaller streams connect and contribute to larger rivers.