In area of moderate relief, the outcrop pattern has a V pointing downstream as it crosses the stream. Which statement about bed dips is correct?

• A. Upstream
• B. Downstream
• C. Perpendicular to the stream
• D. Downstream dip is greater than the valley gradient

Answer: (D)

Interpreting bed dips from surface patterns and stream crossing. When the outcrop forms a V that points downstream as the stream crosses the beds, the beds themselves are dipping downstream. In areas of moderate relief, the inclination of the rock layers (the bed dip) is typically steeper than the slope of the valley floor (the valley gradient) because the beds can tilt more than the overall valley profile the stream erodes into. So the downstream dip is greater than the valley gradient, which makes that statement the best fit for what you observe.