A - River Landforms (1) Flashcards
What is a river regime?
Annual variation in the flow of a river.
List three factors that influence a river regime.
Precipitation, rock porosity/permeability, and vegetation cover.
How does increased precipitation affect a river?
Increases likelihood of erosion.
Which types of rocks are more likely to be affected by solution?
Chalk and limestone.
Where do waterfalls frequently occur?
On horizontally bedded rocks.
Describe the formation process of a gorge of recession.
Formed by waterfall retreat over thousands of years.
What is deposition in the context of river flow?
Process occurring as a river slows down and loses energy, depositing sediments.
Name three common features of river deposition.
Floodplains, levees, and deltas.
What materials typically make up floodplains?
Clay, silt, or alluvium.
Why does a river deposit heavier particles first during deposition?
Heavier particles settle as the river’s speed and energy reduce.
What happens to river speed when it floods across a floodplain?
It is reduced due to friction with the floodplain.
How are levees formed along a river?
By deposition of coarser, heavier material at the river edge during floods.
What materials are levees primarily composed of?
Coarse materials like sand and gravel.
What type of material is typically found in a floodplain?
Fine silt and clay.
