Core Theme 1 - River Landscapes

Question 1

What do upper course river features include?

Answer 1

Upper course river features include steep-sided V-shaped valleys, interlocking spurs, rapids, waterfalls and gorges.

Question 2

What do middle course river features include?

Answer 2

Middle course river features include wider, shallower valleys, meanders, and oxbow lakes.

Question 3

What do lower course river features include?

Answer 3

Lower course river features include wide flat-bottomed valleys, floodplains and deltas.

Question 4

The erosional features are found in the ______ ______ of the river

Answer 4

The erosional features are often found in the upper course of the river.

Question 5

Give 2 examples of large scale landforms

Answer 5

Waterfalls and gorges

Question 6

What is a waterfall?

Answer 6

A steep drop in a river

Question 7

What is a gorge?

Answer 7

A deep, narrow passage that usually has a river running through it.

Question 8

When does a waterfall form?

Answer 8

It forms when there are horizontal bands of resistant rock (hard rock) positioned over exposed, less resistant rock (soft rock).

Question 9

Describe the formation of a waterfall

Answer 9

1. The soft rock is eroded quicker than the hard rock and this creates a step.
2. As erosion continues, the hard rock is undercut forming an overhang.
3. Abrasion and hydraulic action continue to erode the soft rock to create a plunge pool (small scale landform).
4. Over time this gets bigger, increasing the size of the overhang until the hard rock is no longer supported and it collapses.
5. This process continues and the waterfall retreats upstream.
6. A steep-sided valley is left where the waterfall once was. This is called a gorge.

Question 10

In the upper course there is more _____ erosion as the river is less ________

Answer 10

In the upper course there is more vertical erosion as the river is less powerful

Question 11

In the upper course, material cannot be moved by _____ , instead it is moved by _______ or _______

Answer 11

In the upper course, material cannot be moved by solution, instead it is moved by traction or saltation

Question 12

As the river makes its way to the middle course, it gains more water and therefore more _____ , so material can be carried in ________ and is used to erode the river banks. _______ erosion starts to widen the river. When a river flows over flatter land it develops large bends called _______ .

Answer 12

As the river makes its way to the middle course, it gains more water and therefore more energy, so material can be carried in suspension and is used to erode the river banks. Lateral erosion starts to widen the river. When a river flows over flatter land it develops large bends called meanders.

Question 13

As a river goes around a bend, most of the water is pushed towards the ______ . This causes ______ speed due to _____ friction and therefore _____ erosion (through hydraulic action and abrasion).

Answer 13

As a river goes around a bend, most of the water is pushed towards the outside. This causes increased speed due to less friction and therefore increased erosion (through hydraulic action and abrasion).

Question 14

The _____ erosion on the outside bend causes ___________ of the river bank to form a river _____.

Answer 14

The lateral erosion on the outside bend causes undercutting of the river bank to form a river cliff.

Question 15

There is less water on the ____ bend of a meander so friction causes the water to slow down, _____ energy and _______ the material the river is carrying, creating a gentle _____ .

Answer 15

There is less water on the inside bend of a meander so friction causes the water to slow down, lose energy and deposit the material the river is carrying, creating a gentle slope.

Question 16

The build-up of _____ sediment is known as a ____-____ ______ (small scale landform) or sometimes river beach.

Answer 16

The build-up of deposited sediment is known as a slip-off slope (small scale landform) or sometimes river beach.

Question 17

What is a a flood plain?

Answer 17

An area of low lying land next to a river which is prone to flooding

Question 18

What are the causes of the formation of a flood plain?

Answer 18

They form due to both erosion and deposition.

Question 19

During a flood, material being carried by the river is ______

Answer 19

During a flood, material being carried by the river is deposited

Question 20

Over time, the height of the floodplain ______ as material is deposited on either side of the river.

Answer 20

Over time, the height of the floodplain increases as material is deposited on either side of the river.

Question 21

What is alluvium?

Answer 21

Sediment deposited by the river often known as silt

Question 22

Floodplains are often _______ land, as the area is very _______ because it’s made up of _______

Answer 22

Floodplains are often agricultural land, as the area is very fertile because it’s made up of alluvium

Question 23

What is a levee?

Answer 23

Ridges or banks formed by deposits of alluvium left behind by the periodic flooding of rivers.

Question 24

Where do levees occur?

Answer 24

In the lower course

Question 25

What factors affect the rates of landform change?

Answer 25

Geology – such as hard and soft rocks in the formation of a waterfall.

Climate – in the UK this varies with seasons, and affects the discharge amounts in a river and the level of energy it has to erode and deposit.

Human activity – intended and unintended consequences, such as building a dam which traps sediment and controls the flow of a river.

Question 26

The source of the River Severn is located in the ______ Mountains of -_____ Wales, and it flows ____ and _____ to its mouth where the river joins the _____ Channel underneath the ______ _______.

Answer 26

The source of the River Severn is located in the Cambrian Mountains of Mid Wales, and it flows east and south to its mouth where the river joins the Bristol Channel underneath the Severn Bridges.

Question 27

The upper course has hard _________ rocks. Here, ________ erosion has formed a __ - shaped valley.

The River Severn has many waterfalls in its upper course.

Answer 27

The upper course has hard impermeable rocks. Here, vertical erosion has formed a V-shaped valley.

The River Severn has many waterfalls in its upper course.

Question 28

As the River Severn starts to erode sideways (_____ erosion), it forms _______. These can be identified in the middle course near ________ .

Answer 28

As the River Severn starts to erode sideways (lateral erosion), it forms meanders. These can be identified in the middle course near Kempsey.

Question 29

Near _______ , the meanders in the lower course are much _____ . In this area there are also _____ which have formed when the river has flooded.

Answer 29

Near Tewkesbury, the meanders in the lower course are much larger. In this area there are also levees which have formed when the river has flooded.