Key Terms River Enviroments

Question 1

Water cycle

Answer 1

The continuous circulation of water between land, sea and air

Question 2

Drainage basin

Answer 2

An area of land drained by a river and all if its tributaries

Question 3

Precipitation

Answer 3

A form of moisture in the atmosphere, such as rainfall, sleet, snow and fog

Question 4

Interception

Answer 4

The process where precipitation is prevented from falling onto the ground by plants. It slows run-off and reduces the risk of flash flooding

Question 5

Through-flow

Answer 5

Water which is moving through the soil

Question 6

Percolation

Answer 6

The movement of water from the soil in the bedrock

Question 7

Surface run-off/ overland flow

Answer 7

Water which is moving over the surface of the land

Question 8

River discharge

Answer 8

The volume of water flowing trough a river channel

Question 9

Groundwater flow

Answer 9

Water which is moving horizontally through the bedrock towards a river or sea

Question 10

Evapotranspiration

Answer 10

The process by which water is transferred from the land to the atmosphere by evaporation from surfaces e.g. lakes by transpiration from plants

Question 11

Water shed

Answer 11

A boundary between drainage basins, it is often a ridge of high land

Question 12

Source

Answer 12

The starting point of a river, it may be a lake, glacier or marsh

Question 13

Tributary

Answer 13

A stream which flows into a larger river

Question 14

Confluence

Answer 14

The junction of 2 rivers

Question 15

River mouth

Answer 15

Where a river enters a lake, river, reservoir or sea

Question 16

Gradient

Answer 16

The slope over which the river loses height

Question 17

Depth

Answer 17

The distance from the surface of a river to the river bed

Question 18

Width

Answer 18

The measurement from one river bank to the other across a river channel

Question 19

Load

Answer 19

The sediment carried by a river

Question 20

Erosion

Answer 20

Wearing away of a landscape by the action of ice, water and wind

Question 21

River landforms

Answer 21

Large scale features found along a the course of a river, such as waterfalls and meanders

Question 22

Water fall

Answer 22

A steep fall of river water

Question 23

Meander

Answer 23

A river landform, a sweeping curve curve or bend in the rivers course

Question 24

Slip-off slope

Answer 24

A small feature seen on the outside of some meander bends which is caused by erosion of the river banks

Question 25

River cliff

Answer 25

The outside bank of a river channel which is continually undergoing erosion

Question 26

Flood plain

Answer 26

An area of low lying land adjacent to a river, subject to flooding

Question 27

Levees

Answer 27

Raised banks along a river that help to reduce the risk of flooding

Question 28

River management strategy

Answer 28

This interferes with the natural flow of the river and its basin

Question 29

Hard engineering measures

Answer 29

Strategies to control a natural hazard which does not blend into the environment

Question 30

Dams

Answer 30

A barrier built across a valley to interrupt river flow and create a man-made lake

Question 31

Flood walls

Answer 31

A stone/brick/ concrete wall built alongside a river to protect nearby areas from flooding

Question 32

Embankments

Answer 32

A wall built to protect a river flooding an area

Question 33

Straightening and deepening

Answer 33

A river may be straightened or deepened so it can carry more water and allow water to travel faster

Question 34

Soft engineering methods

Answer 34

A strategy used to control a natural hazard which does blend into the environment, so it is often sustainable

Question 35

Wash lands

Answer 35

Land that is periodically flooded by a river or stream

Question 36

Land use zoning

Answer 36

Zoning regulations is to separate different, incompatible property uses

Question 37

Afforestation

Answer 37

The process of planting trees or soil in a barren land devoid of any trees to create a forest

Question 38

Surface storage

Answer 38

When water is stored on the earths surface e.g. a lake

Question 39

Evaporation

Answer 39

When water is lost from the drainage basin system due to the change from liquid water to water vapour

Question 40

Infiltration

Answer 40

The movement of water from surface storage to soil moisture

Question 41

Soil moisture

Answer 41

The store of water within soil

Question 42

Percolation

Answer 42

The movement of water from soil moisture (soil) into groundwater (bedrock)

Question 43

Ground water

Answer 43

The store of water within bedrock