Physical Geography - River courses and profiles

Question 1

What are the 3 (main) courses of a river

Answer 1

1. The Upper Course
2. The Middle Course
3. The Lower Course

aka 1. youthful stage, 2. mature stage, 3. old stage

Question 2

What is seen in the

Long profile of a river

Answer 2

We can see the entire drainage basin from its highest point to its lowest point.

it shows the entire length of the river from its upper course to its lowest course

Question 3

What is seen in the

Cross profile of a river

Answer 3

We can see the width/side view across the channel of any 1 river from one bank to the other bank at each course/stage

Question 4

The characteristics of each developmental stage or course:

I have a broad, U-shaped valley, my channel is deep. At what stage/course am I?

Answer 4

Youthful stage/Upper course

Question 5

The characteristics of each developmental stage or course:

I have a narrow, V-shaped valley, it is steep sided, my channel is shallow. At what stage/course am I?

Answer 5

Mature stage/Middle course

Question 6

The characteristics of each developmental stage or course:

I have a wide valley, and a flat flood plain. My river is relatively shallow. At what stage/course am I?

Answer 6

Old stage/Lower course