Key Terms Flashcards
1
Q
Load
A
- made of particles of sediment + dissolved matter carried along by river
2
Q
Velocity
A
- speed of river
3
Q
Gradient
A
- steepness of river
4
Q
Geology
A
- describes bedrock
5
Q
pH
A
- measure of acidity
- ranges from 0-14
6
Q
Human impact
A
- ways human activities have an effect on physical processes + features
7
Q
Capacity
A
- total load a stream can carry
8
Q
Competence
A
- size of largest particle a stream can carry
9
Q
Critical erosion velocity
A
- lowest velocity grains of a given size can be moved
10
Q
Bankfull
A
- condition a river’s channel fills completely, so further inc. in discharge causes water overflowing banks
11
Q
Pools
A
- found in deep parts of river channels located towards outer bank of meander
12
Q
Riffles
A
- deposited bars in straight section of a meander
13
Q
River cliff
A
- steep banks located on outer bend of a meander
14
Q
Incised meanders
A
- associated w a steep, deep cross-profile of a river rather than a gentle V-shaped profile
15
Q
Point bars
A
- landforms of deposition found on inner bank of a meander
16
Q
Weathering
A
- decomposition + disintegration of rocks on spot
17
Q
Levees
A
- embankments found at side of river, formed by deposition of coarse load
18
Q
Floodplain
A
- part of stream valley that’s inundated during floods
19
Q
Backswamps
A
- section of floodplain where deposits of fine silts + clays settle after a flood
20
Q
River bluffs
A
- steep slopes at edge of a river terrace
21
Q
Bottomset beds (in a delta)
A
- forms finer material carried further out
- later covered by other, heavier sediments
22
Q
Foreset beds (in a delta)
A
- medium-sized deposits carried out + deposited on bottomset beds
23
Q
Topset beds
A
- heaviest deposits not carried very far + deposited on top of other sediments
24
Q
Lacustrine delta
A
- delta in a lake
25
Q
Global warming
A
- observed inc. in T°C around world, noticed over last 50yrs
26
Q
Pollution
A
- damage to envi. caused by human activities, usually involving chemical substances
27
Q
Climate change
A
- changes in climate occurring naturally or from human activity
