6 Why are rivers important? Flashcards
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the point at which a river starts to flow
mouth
the end of the river, where it flows into a lake or the sea
evaporation
conversion of a liquid into a vapour or gas
condensation
conversion of vapour or gas into a liquid
precipitation
water falling from the sky in the form of rain, hail, snow, etc.
interception
precipitation being caught by leaves etc.
infiltrating
water soaking into soil
surface run off / overland flow
water running over the surface of the land
throughflow
water that has soaked into soil and is flowing towards the river
groundwater flow
water which has soaked into the rock layer and is flowing towards the river
watershed
area from which water drains into one river
abrasion
materials carried by the river hit rocks and wear them away
attrition
materials carried by the river hit each other and wear each other away, becoming smaller rounder
hydraulic action
water flows against a rock surface, wearing it away
corrosion
rock breaking down due to a chemical reaction
suspension
the water carries along fine, light particles of material
traction
boulders and large rocks are slowly rolled along the bed of the river
solution
the dissolved material is transported
saltation
small pebbles and stones are bounced along the river bed
deposition
takes place when a river slows down and no longer has the energy to carry the material it is transporting, so drops some of the material
erosion
the wearing away of the banks and bed of the river by the power of flowing water in the channel
transportation
the river carry material along the river
