1.3 River Channel Processes and Landforms

Question 1

Abrasion or Corrasion

Answer 1

Wearing away of the bed and bank by the load carried by a river

Question 2

Attrition

Answer 2

Wearing away of the the load carried away by a river

Question 3

Capacity

Answer 3

Total load a stream can carry

Question 4

Discharge

Answer 4

Volume of water passing a certain point per unit of time. (Usually in cubic meters per second- cumecs)

Question 5

Helicoidal flow

Answer 5

Corkscrewing motion responsible for the formation of meanders

Question 6

Hydraulic action

Answer 6

Force of air and water on the sides of rivers and in cracks

Question 7

Laminar flow

Answer 7

It is when water flows in sheets or laminae parallel to the channel bed

Question 8

Load

Answer 8

Particles of sediment and dissolved matter that are carried along by a river

Question 9

Solution

Answer 9

Removal of chemical ions, especially calcium

Question 10

Turbulent flow

Answer 10

Chaotic flow that involves eddying and vertical movement

Question 11

Pools

Answer 11

Deep hollows scoured in the bed of a river, typically located on the outside edge of meanders

Question 12

Riffles

Answer 12

Small scale ridges formed of coarse pebbles and cobbles found half-way between meanders in the straight section of a river

Question 13

Delta

Answer 13

River sediments when a river enters a standing body of water such as a lake, lagoon, a sea or an ocean.

Question 14

Suspended load

Answer 14

Smallest particles like silts and clay that are carried in suspension

Question 15

Saltation

Answer 15

Larger particles that are transported in series of hops

Question 16

Tracted load

Answer 16

Pebbles shunted along the bed