GCSE Geography - Rivers and Coasts Flashcards
What does Upland mean?
A hilly or mountainous area, often above sea level.
What does Lowland mean?
A rather flat area, but not always far above sea level.
What does Source mean?
The start/origin of water.
What does Tributary mean?
The smaller river that joins the bigger river.
What does Watershed mean?
The edge of the basin.
What does Confluence mean?
The point where a smaller river joins a bigger river.
What does Mouth/Delta mean?
The point where the river meets the sea.
What does Channel mean?
The part of the river that the water flows in.
What does Turbulence mean?
How calm or violent a river’s water is.
What does Valley mean?
The land on either side of the river.
What does Discharge mean?
How much water is in the river.
What does Helicoidal Flow mean?
When the current of a river pulls down under instead of forwards.
What does Vertical Erosion mean?
Downwards erosion instead of upwards.
What does Lateral Erosion mean?
Outwards erosion instead of downwards.
What does Cross Profile mean?
The side to side cross section of a river channel and/or valley.
What does Deposition mean?
When sediment carried by the river is dropped. This is because it no longer has enough energy to transport the sediment.
What does Traction (Transportation) mean?
When large particles and sediment are rolled across the river bed.
What does Solution (Transportation) mean?
When dissolved load gets carried through the water.
What does Suspension (Transportation) mean?
This is when small sediment is held in the river.
What does Saltation (Transportation) mean?
The bouncing of particles and sediment which are too heavy to be suspended.
What does Hydraulic Action (Erosion) mean?
When the force of the water hits the river bed and banks. This is more common the higher the velocity.
What does Abrasion (Erosion) mean?
When the load carried by the river repeatedly hits the bed or banks, dislodging particles into the flow of the river.
What does Attrition (Erosion) mean?
When stones carried by the river knock against each other, gradually making the stones smaller and rounded.
What does Solution (Erosion) mean?
When the river flows over limestone or chalk, the rock is slowly dissolved. This is because it’s soluble.
