2. River Profiles Flashcards
What is the “Cross Profile” of a river?
River cross profiles show you a cross-section of a river’s channel and valley at certain points in the river’s course.
What is the “Long Profile” of a river?
The Long Profile is the change in gradient with distance. It starts off steep but reduces with distance from the source, and had a concave profile.
What is Vertical Erosion?
Vertical erosion is when the depth of the river is greater than the width causing erosion to take place on the bed of the river. When vertical erosion occurs, the channel gets deeper and thus the river is able to hold more water.
What is Lateral Erosion?
When lateral erosion occurs, the sides of the river are eroded and the channel is widened.
What is a V-Shaped Valley?
As the river moves through the upper course it cuts downwards. The gradient here is steep and the river channel and the river channel is narrow. Vertical erosion in this highland part of the river helps to create steep-sided V-shaped valleys, interlocking spurs, rapids, waterfalls and gorges.
What is the Discharge and Efficiency of a river?
The discharge of a river is the volume of water which flows through it in a given time.
River efficiency is how easily a river can move water, sediment and bedload.
