Physical Landscapes In The UK: River Landscapes In The UK Keywords

Question 1

Cross profile

Answer 1

The side to side cross-section of a river channel and/or valley.

Question 2

Dam and reservoir

Answer 2

A barrier built across a valley to interrupt river flow and create a man‐made lake (reservoir) which stores water and controls the discharge of the river.

Question 3

Discharge

Answer 3

The quantity of water that passes a given point on a stream or river‐bank within a given period of time.

Question 4

Embankments

Answer 4

Raised banks constructed along the river; they effectively make the river deeper so it can hold more water. They are expensive and do not look natural but they do protect the land around them.

Question 5

Estuary

Answer 5

The tidal mouth of a river where it meets the sea; wide banks of deposited mud are exposed at low tide.

Question 6

Flood

Answer 6

Occurs when river discharge exceeds river channel capacity and water spills out of the channel onto the floodplain and other areas.

Question 7

Flood plain

Answer 7

The relatively flat area forming the valley floor on either side of a river channel, which is sometimes flooded.

Question 8

Flood plain zoning

Answer 8

This attempts to organise the flood defences in such a way that land that is near the river and often floods is not built on. This could be used for pastoral farming, playing fields etc. The areas that rarely get flooded would therefore be used for houses, transport and industry.

Question 9

Flood relief channels

Answer 9

Building new artificial channels which are used when a river is close to maximum discharge. They take the pressure off the main channels when floods are likely, therefore reducing flood risk.

Question 10

Flood risk

Answer 10

The predicted frequency of floods in an area

Question 11

Flood warning

Answer 11

Providing reliable advance information about possible flooding. Flood warning systems give people time to remove possessions and evacuate areas.

Question 12

Fluvial processes

Answer 12

Processes relating to erosion, transport and deposition by a river.

Question 13

Gorge

Answer 13

A narrow, steep sided valley, often formed as a waterfall retreats upstream.

Question 14

Hard engineering

Answer 14

Involves the building of entirely artificial structures using various materials such as rock, concrete and steel to reduce, disrupt or stop the impact of river processes.

Question 15

Hydrograph

Answer 15

A graph which shows the discharge of a river, related to rainfall, over a period of time.

Question 16

Interlocking spurs

Answer 16

A series of ridges projecting out on alternate sides of a valley and around which a river winds its course.

Question 17

Lateral erosion

Answer 17

Sideways erosion by a river on the outside of a meander channel. It eventually leads to the widening of the valley and contributes to the formation of the flood plain.

Question 18

Levees

Answer 18

Embankment of sediment along the banks of a river. It may be formed naturally by regular flooding or be built up by people to protect the area against flooding.

Question 19

Long profile

Answer 19

The gradient of a river, from its source to its mouth.

Question 20

Meander

Answer 20

A pronounced bend in a river.

Question 21

Ox-bow lake

Answer 21

An arc-shaped lake which has been cut off from a meandering river.

Question 22

Precipitation

Answer 22

Mositure falling from the atmosphere - as rain, hail, sleet or snow.

Question 23

Soft engineering

Answer 23

Involves the use of the natural environment surrounding a river, using schemes that work with the river’s natural processes. Soft engineering is usually much cheaper and offers a more sustainable option as it does not interfere directly with the river’s flow.

Question 24

(Channel) straightening

Answer 24

Removing meanders from a river to make the river straighter. Straightening the river (also called channelising) allows it to carry more water quickly downstream, so it doesn’t build up and is less likely to flood.

Question 25

Vertical erosion

Answer 25

Downwards erosion of a river bed.

Question 26

Waterfall

Answer 26

Sudden descent of a river or stream over a vertical or very steep slope in its bed. It often forms where the river meets a band of softer rock after flowing over an area of more resistant material.