Chapter 7 - Rivers Flashcards
Whats a Tributary
A stream or river which joins a larger river
What’s a source
The place where the river begins
Whats a River mouth
The place where a river enters the sea a lake or other river
Whats an Estuary
The part of a river mouth which is tidal
What’s the basin
The total area drained by a river and its tributaries
What’s water shed
The high ground which separates one river basin from another
What’s a confluence
The place where two or more rivers meet
What’s the river course
The route taken by a river between its source and its mouth
What’s the four forms of erosion
Attrition
Abrasion
Hydraulic action
Solution
What’s hydraulic action
hydraulic action is the force of moving water which breaks fragments from the bed and the banks if the river. The material carried along by the river is called its LOAD .
What’s abrasion
Abrasion is when the load hits against the bed and banks of the river and erodes them rapidly
Abrasion is the most powerful way in which rivers erode
What’s attrition
Attrition is when the stones carried in the load of the river are themselves worn down
Stones are smoothened rounded and made smaller by the process of attrition
What’s solution
Solution is when chemicals in the water help to break down some rocks
Carbonic acid for example slowly dissolves limestone
What’s the three stages of a river
Youth (upper course) steep slope
Maturity (middle course) gentle “
Old age (lower course) almost flat
