Lesson 3 - River Regimes Flashcards
What is a river regime?
Annual variation in discharge/flow at a particular point or gauging station
What is a river regime measured in?
Cumecs
Which main factors influence a river regime?
River size + where measurements are taken
Amount, pattern + intensity of precipitation
Temperatures experienced
Geology + Overlying soils
Vegetation
Human activity
How does river size + measurement location influence a river regime?
Upper + lower courses may differ significantly
Larger rivers, sharper contrasts in gradient, discharge, flow etc.
How does precipitation influence a river regime?
Direct correlation - More precipitation, higher flow + discharge
May be influenced by snow melt + glacier outwash
How does temperature influence a river regime?
Evaporation marked in the Summer
Reduces flow + discharge
How does geology + soil influence a river regime?
Permeability + porosity affect regime
Water stored in permeable rocks as groundwater
Gradually released into river as base flow
How does vegetation influence a river regime?
Wetlands + veg can hold water
Gets released gradually into system
How does human activity influence a river regime?
Dam building regulates flow
Reservoirs withhold + control release of water
Flow + discharge peaks reduced
What are the 2 types of regime?
Subdued
Quick response
What are the characteristics of a subdued regime?
Less variations + fluctuations in flow
Flatter gradients
What are the characteristics of a quick response regime?
Steeper gradients
Rapid + frequent fluctuations
