Physical landscapes in the UK: River landscapes in the UK - Long And Cross Profiles On A Typical River

Question 1

Upper valley

Answer 1

. Vertical erosion with hydraulic action, abrasion and attrition dominant processes.
. Traction and Saltation at high flow.
. Load size is large and angular.
. V shaped valleys.

Question 2

Middle reaches

Answer 2

. Channel is deeper and wider.
. Vertical erosion decreasing in importance, more lateral erosion and deposition.
. Suspension is the main transportation type.
. Load becomes smaller and less angular.

Question 3

Lower reaches

Answer 3

. Channel is at its widest and deepest, and may be tidal.
. Deposition more important than erosion.
. Fine material deposited.
. Large amount of load but the size is very small and very rounded.

Question 4

Long profile

Answer 4

Change in gradient with distance. It starts off steep but reduces with distance from source and has a concave profile.