River Landscapes Flashcards
What is a source?
The start of the river. They are usually found in the hills or mountains
What is the mouth?
The end of the river where it flows into a sea or lake
What is a tributary?
A smaller stream or river that joins to the main channel
What is a confluence?
A river and a stream or two rivers that join together
What is a watershed?
The divide between one drainage basin and the other. Usually a ridge line in the mountains
What is abrasion?
Material being transported is thrown against the river bed and banks. These particles break off more rocks which are thrown against the river bed and banks as the water continues to make its way downstream
What is hydraulic action?
The sheer force of water flow being pushed into the river banks. It also includes the compression of air in cracks : as the water splashed against the riverbanks, it compresses air in cracks; this puts even more pressure on the cracks and pieces of rock break off
What is solution?
Weak acids within the water react with the rocks on the bed and banks of the river causing them to breakdown.
What is attrition?
This involves boulders, pebbles and other material being transported, colliding into each other, over time these rocks and pebbles will become smaller and smoother
What is traction?
The rolling motion of sediment along the bed
What is saltation?
The bouncing motion of larger particles along the river bed
What is suspension?
Where small particles such as sand and clay are help up or suspended in the water
What is solution?
Where material is dissolved within the water
What is deposition?
When a river no longer has enough energy to carry its load, deposition occurs. As the river’s discharge and velocity reduce, the heaviest material is deposited first
What is weathering?
The breakdown and decay of rock. No movement is involved. These processes will take place on the rocks on the slopes above the river channel - not the river itself
