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Geography Paper 1 > (B) River Landcapes > Flashcards

(B) River Landcapes Flashcards

1
Q

Erosion definition

A

Wearing away of land in a natural environment

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2
Q

4 processes of erosion

A

Hydraulic action
Corrasion/Abrasion
Solution/corrosion
Attrition

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3
Q

Hydraulic action definition

A

The force of water against the bed and banks

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4
Q

Corrasion/abrasion definition

A

Bed and banks are worn by the rivers load

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5
Q

Solution/corrosion definition

A

Chemical action of the river, where carbonic acids I the water dissolve the bed and banks

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6
Q

Attrition definition

A

The material load collide and are smoothed and broken down

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7
Q

4 methods of transportation

A

Traction
Saltation
Suspension
Solution

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8
Q

Traction definition

A

Heavy material rolls along the bed

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9
Q

Saltation definition

A

Material bounces along the river bed in the flow of the water

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10
Q

Suspension

A

Fine particles are carried by the water

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11
Q

Solution

A

Dissolve material e.g. calcium carbonate is within the water

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12
Q

What is the source of a river

A

The start of the river

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13
Q

What is a drainage basin

A

An area of land drained by a river and its tributaries

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14
Q

What is a tributary

A

A small stream that joins a large river

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15
Q

What is a confluence

A

Where a tributary joins a large river

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16
Q

What is a watershed

A

The edge of a river/drainage basin

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17
Q

What is a rover mouth

A

The end of a river, as it meets the sea

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18
Q

Characteristics of V-Shaped valley and it’s river

A

Valley: Steep sided, v-shaped
River: Narrow, shallow, turbulent

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19
Q

Characteristics of a flood plain and the river within it

A

Valley: Wider, flatter floor
River: Wider, deeper

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20
Q

3 factors that distinguish how much load a river can carry

A

The discharge
The velocity
Rock types

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21
Q

Formula to work out discharge

A

Discharge =

Cross sectional area x velocity

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22
Q

Examples of landforms found in upper course of a river

A

Interlocking spurs
Rapids
Waterfalls
Gorges

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23
Q

What are interlocking spurs

A

Projections of high land either side of the river, formed by fluvial erosion

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24
Q

What are rapids

A

Turbulent sections of a river where the gradient is relatively steep
It’s caused by different rocks on the river bed resulting in an uneven bed when eroded

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25
What is a waterfall
A vertical drop in the river bed where water goes into a plunge pool It’s caused by softer rock being eroded more than the hard rock it is next to
26
What are gorges
A recession found immediately downstream of a waterfall | It is a narrow steep sided valley created by the river eroding rock between it
27
Main characteristics of upper course
Long profile is steep | Cross profile is steep
28
Landforms found in middle course
Meanders | Oxbow lakes
29
What is a meander
A turn in a river Caused by faster current on the outside of the bend where the river channel is deeper eroding (fluvial) it to form a cliff, whilst load is deposited on inside bend causing slip off slope
30
What are ox-bow lakes
When Menanders become larger the outside bends get closer, eventually the river eroded the small bit of land between and the water follows the shortest course. Deposition cuts of the meander forming the ox-bow lake
31
Landforms found in the lower course of a river
Flood plains Levees Estuary
32
What are flood plains
A wide valley floor on either side of the river. When a river floods it deposits material here making it higher, also meanders move across it making it wider Deposition on slip off slopes builds up a flood plain
33
What are levees
Natural embankments along the edges of a river channel They are formed because when a river floods, the heaviest material is deposited closest to the river, causing the embankment to be built over time
34
What is an estuary
Funnel shaped mouth of a river where it meets the sea
35
Where are mudflats found
At estuaries
36
What is a mud flat
Made up of sediment deposited because of reduced velocity of water where the river meets the sea
37
Long profile of upper course
Steep
38
Cross profile of upper course
Steep, V-Shaped valley
39
Processes of erosion in upper course
Vertical Hydraulic action Abrasion Solution
40
Processes of transportation in upper course
Traction | Saltation
41
Typical load size in upper course
Large
42
Long profile of middle course
Less steep
43
Cross profile of middle course
Wider, deeper channel | Flat valley floor
44
Processes of erosion in middle course
Lateral Hydraulic action Abrasion Solution
45
Processes of transportation in middle course
Saltation Traction Suspension
46
Typical load size in middle course
Reduced, more deposition in meanders
47
Long profile of lower course
Gentle/flat
48
Cross profile of lower course
Wide | Flat valley bottom
49
Processes of erosion
Little amount of lateral erosion
50
Processes of transportation
Suspension is dominant
51
Typical load size in lower course
Very small
52
How can geology increase flood risk
Impermeable rock with little interception above increase the chance Opposite for permeable rock
53
How can relief increase flood risk
Flat land has not enough gradient to remove water | Land with high gradient may direct all water to another area
54
2 examples of human causes of flooding
Urbanisation | Deforestation
55
Examples of urbanisation causing flooding
New housing- on flood plains and surrounded by impermeable roads. Relayed gardens - more impermeable surfaces for driveways
56
Examples of deforestation causing flooding
Forestry - to get wood Losing fields - e.g. for solar panels Farming - hedges ripped out to create larger fields
57
What is a hydrograph
Shows how a rivers discharge changes to a precipitation event
58
What is lag time
The time between peak rainfall and the peak discharge of the river
59
What is the falling limb
When the amount of water reaching the river is decreasing
60
What is peak discharge
The maximum level of the river
61
What is a rising limb
When the amount of water reaching a river is increasing
62
What is peak rainfall
The maximum amount of rain that falls in a storm
63
2 examples of hard engineering
Embankments | Flood relief channels
64
What are embankments
Artificially risen river banks to increase the volume of water that can be held
65
Advantage and disadvantage of embankments
They can create attractive scenic walkways and reduce flooding They’re not as reliable as river can still flood
66
What are flood-relief channels
A backup channel running alongside the river, that is opened at times of peak discharge
67
Advantage and disadvantage of flood-relief channels
Can provide nature reserves | Settlements downstream may suffer
68
2 examples of soft engineering
Planting trees | River restoration
69
What is planting trees
Shelter belts of trees are placed on flood plains to intercept rain
70
Advantage and disadvantage of planting trees
They reduce surface runoff so less water reaches the river | Loss of potential grazing land
71
What is river restoration
When a previously engineered river is restored to a natural channel
72
Advantage and disadvantage of river restoration
Increases water storage and is aesthetically pleasing | Can be expensive and may not be effective

Geography Paper 1 (11 decks)

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