River Landscapes Flashcards
What is weathering?
The breakdown of rocks in situ
What are the three types of weathering?
Mechanical
Chemical
Biological
What are the types of mass movement?
Sliding
Slumping
What types of erosion is there?
Attrition
Solution
Abrasion
Hydraulic Action
What is attrition?
Sediment bumping together wearing it down
What is hydraulic action?
The force of the water on the bed
What is solution?
Some rock minerals dissolve in river water
What is abrasion?
Material carried by the river rubs against the bed and banks
What is transport?
The way in which the river carries eroded material
What are the types of transport?
Traction
Saltation
Solution
Suspension
What is deposition?
The river slowing down and losing its energy leading to the dropping of sediment
What is traction?
Large boulders rolling along the river bed
What is saltation?
Smaller pebbles bouncing along the river bed
What is suspension?
Finer sand and silt particles are carried along in the river
What does a river long profile show?
THe height and distance downstream from the river’s source
Describe the gradient along the course of the river?
UC - Steep
MC - Less Steep
LC - Shallow
Describe the discharge along the course of the river?
UC - Small
MC - Large
LC - Very Large
Describe the depth along the course of the river?
UC - Shallow
MC - Deeper
LC - Deepest
Describe the channel shape along the course of the river?
UC - Narrow with steep sides
MC - Flat with steep sides
LC - Flat with sloping sides
Describe the velocity along the course of the river?
UC - Quite Fast
MC - Fast
LC - Very Fast
What features are present at the upper course?
Waterfalls and interlocking spurs
What features are present at the middle course?
Meanders and flood plains
What features are present in the lower course?
Meanders, flood plains, levees and ox-bow lakes
How does the climate impact the river?
Erosion rate (more rain more discharge) Transport rate (more water more discharge) Weathering (Freeze-thaw in cold conditions) Amount of discharge (more rain more discharge)