Channel characteristics

Question 1

What features will you find in the upper course of a river? (Characteristics rivers)

Answer 1

• narrow v-shapped valleys
• potholes
• interlocking spurs
• waterfalls
• rapids

Question 2

What features will you find in the middle course of a river? (Characteristics rivers)

Answer 2

• flood plains

- meanders

Question 3

What features will you find in the lower course of a river? (Characteristics rivers)

Answer 3

• ox bow lakes
• large flood plains
• leeves

Question 4

What does a graded profile show? (Characteristics rivers)

Answer 4

• river erosion smoothes out the irregularities concave profile occurs
• A theoretical state of equilibrium is shown
• The river is in balance with the environment

Question 5

What type of erosion will you find in the upper course of the river? (Characteristics rivers)

Answer 5

Vertical erosion

Weathering

Question 6

What type of erosion will you find in the middle course of the river? (Characteristics rivers)

Answer 6

Lateral erosion

Transportation

Question 7

What type of erosion will you find in the lower course of the river? (Characteristics rivers)

Answer 7

Deposition

Question 8

What does the hydraulic radius calculate? (Characteristics rivers)

Answer 8

• River efficiency
• Friction must be overcome before there river can flow
• Surplus energy is used to transport material
• This surplus calculated by the Hydraulic Radius

Question 9

How is the hydraulic radius calculated? (Characteristic rivers)

Answer 9

cross-sectional area / wetted perimeter

Question 10

What does a high hydraulic radius show? (Characteristics rivers)

Answer 10

A highly efficient river