Key Definition - Rivers Flashcards
Long Profile
The gradient of a river, from its source to its mouth
The gradient of a river, from its source to its mouth
Long profile
Cross Profile
The side by side cross-section of a river channel or valley
The side by side cross-section of a river channel or valley
Cross Profile
Erosion
Wearing away & removal of material by a river
Wearing away & removal of material by a river.
Erosion
Transportation
The movement of eroded material
The movement of eroded material.
transportation
Deposition
Occurs when material being transported by a river is dropped due to it losing energy
Occurs when material being transported by a river is dropped due to its energy
Deposition
Interlocking spur
Where the mountain streams weave there way through the V-shaped valley & around the fingers of the land that juts out
Where the mountain streams weave their way through the V-shaped valley & around the fingers of the land that juts out
Interlocking spur
waterfall
A step in the long profile of a river usually formed when a river crosses over a hard (resisdent) band rock.
A step in the long profile of a river usually formed when a river crosses over a hard (resisdent) band rock.
Waterfall
Gorge
A narrow steep-sided valley, often formed as a waterfall retreats upstream
A narrow steep-sided valley, often formed as a waterfall retreats upstream
Gorge
Meander
A wide bend in a river
A wide bend in a river
Meander
Ox-bow lake
An arc-shaped lake on a floodplain formed by a cut-off meander.
An arc-shaped lake on a floodplain formed by a cut-off meander.
Ox-bow lake
Levee
Raised bank found on either side of a river, formed or built up by people to protect against flooding
Raised bank found on either side of a river, formed or built up by people to protect against flooding
Levee
Floodplain
Relatively flat area forming the valley floor either side of a river channel that sometimes floods
Relatively flat area forming the valley floor either side of a river channel that sometimes floods
Floodplain
Estuary
Tidal mouth of amriver where it meets the sea, wide banks of deposited mud are exposed at low tide
Tidal mouth of amriver where it meets the sea, wide banks of deposited mud are exposed at low tide
Estuary
Hydrograph
A graph which shows the discharge of a river, related to rainfall, over a period of time
A graph which shows the discharge of a river, related to rainfall, over a period of time
Hydrograph
Discharge
Quantity of water that passes á given point on a stream or river bank within a given period of time.
Quantity of water that passes á given point on a stream or river bank within a given period of time.
Discharge
Hard engineering
Using concrete or large artificial structures to defend against natural proccesses, either coastal, fluvial or glacial
Using concrete or large artificial structures to defend against natural proccesses, either coastal, fluvial or glacial
Hard engineering
Soft engineering
Managing erosion by working with natural proccesses to reduce the risk of flooding
Managing erosion by working with natural proccesses to reduce the risk of flooding
Soft engineering
Drainage basin
An area of land draind by a river and it’s tributaries
An area of land draind by a river and it’s tributaries
Drainage basin
V-shaped valley
When a river its source, it often develops a V-shaped valley as the river erode down (this is called vertical erosion)
When a river its source, it often develops a V-shaped valley as the river erode down (this is called vertical erosion)
V-shaped valley
Flood
Where river discharge exceeds river channel capacity and water spills onto the flood plain
Where river discharge exceeds river channel capacity and water spills onto the flood plain
Flood
Relief
The height above the sea level, steepness of slopes and shapes physical features
The height above the sea level, steepness of slopes and shapes physical features
Relief
Geology
Rocks that form the landscapes
Rocks that form the landscapes
Geology
bed
Bottom of the river
Bottom of the river
bed
Bank
Side of the river
Side of the river
Bank
Load
The material carried by the river
The material carried by the river
Load
Channel
Pathway where the river travels
Pathway where the river travels
Channel
4 types of erosion
Abrasion, hydraulic action, attrition and solution
Abrasion, hydraulic action, attrition and solution
4 types of erosion
Hydraulic action
the sheer force of the water hitting the bed and banks. This is more effective when the water is moving fast and there is a lot of it.
the sheer force of the water hitting the bed and banks. This is more effective when the water is moving fast and there is a lot of it.
Hydraulic action
Abrasion
Occurs when the load the river is carrying repeatedly hits the river bed and banks, causing some of the material to break off.
Occurs when the load the river is carrying repeatedly hits the river bed and banks, causing some of the material to break off.
Abrasion
Attrition
Is when stones and boulders carried by the river which knocks against each other and over time are weakened causing bits to fall off and reduce in size
Is when stones and boulders carried by the river which knocks against each other and over time are weakened causing bits to fall off and reduce in size
Attrition
Solution
Occurs only when the river flows on certain types of rocks such as chalk and limestone. These are soluble in rainwater and become part of the water as they are dissolved by it.
Occurs only when the river flows on certain types of rocks such as chalk and limestone. These are soluble in rainwater and become part of the water as they are dissolved by it.
Solution
Vertical erosion
When the river erodes downwards - which forms a V-shape valley
When the river erodes downwards - which forms a V-shape valley
Vertical erosion
