Hydrosphere

Question 1

Upper course

Answer 1

• Rocky, covered with boulders/ rocks of different shapes and sizes
• Fairly low discharge
• Valley bottom is narrow
• Vertical erosion by hydraulic action
• Shallow and slow
• Steep gradient
• Waterfalls, rapids and gorges

Question 2

Middle Course

Answer 2

• Less vertical erosion, more attrition and abrasion
• More deposition and smaller and rounder material
• Wider and deeper channel
• Increase in speed
• Meanders, ox-box lakes and flood plains

Question 3

Lower course

Answer 3

• Moderately flat
• More deposition, very small/ dissolved material
• Lateral erosion, much less erosion generally
• Lots of deposition
• Fastest part of river
• Flat and deep channel
• Ox-box lakes, floor plains and leves/ deltas

Question 4

• Traction
• Saltation
• Suspention
• Solution

Answer 4

• The force of water rolls and drags the larger particles along the bed of the river
• Relatively small particles on the river bed are dislodged by similar sized particles in the current. After traveling a short distance, the particles again settle on the river bed and displace further particles.
• The finest particles (clay and silt) are carried in suspension, being “swirled” along by the river. As particles breakdown, the amount of suspension load increases
• The river transports the products of chemical weathering from the hillsides and river bed

Question 5

Hydraulic action

Answer 5

The pressure of rushing water mechanically drags away particles of unconsolidated material such as sands and gravels.

Question 6

Abrasion

Answer 6

This is wearing away the rivers bedrock and banks by sand, pebbles and stones. Assists vertical erosion in the upper course.

Question 7

Attrition

Answer 7

Involves various forms of load attacking themselves by rubbing and impacting against each other, load particles progressively are reduced in size and become increasingly rounded.

Question 8

Solution

Answer 8

Can occur anywhere along a rivers course and is the chemical erosion of rock surfaces by the flowing water. Not only does CO2 attack limestone but, by weathering it’s structure, makes it vulnerable to other erosive processes.

Question 9

Transfers

Answer 9

• Precipitation
• Evaporation
• Transpiration
• Evapotranspiration
• Surface run off
• Infiltration
• Through flow
• Percolation

Question 10

Stores

Answer 10

• Oceans
• Rivers
• Lakes
• Ice caps and glaciers
• Vegetation
• The atmosphere
• Soil and the ground