river landscapes in the uk

Question 1

abrasion

Answer 1

Rocks carried along by the river wear down the riverbed and banks.

Question 2

attrition

Answer 2

Rocks being carried by the river smash together and break into smaller, smoother, and rounder particles.

Question 3

cross profile

Answer 3

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

Question 4

dam and reservoir

Answer 4

A barrier (made on earth, concrete or stone) 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 5

discharge

Answer 5

The quantity of water that passes a given point on a stream or riverbank within a given period of time

Question 6

embankments

Answer 6

Raised banks constructed along the river; they effectively make the river deeper so it can hold more water.

Pros: protect the land around.
cons: expensive, do not look natural.

Question 7

estuary

Answer 7

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

Question 8

flood

Answer 8

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

Question 9

flood plain

Answer 9

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

Question 10

flood plain zoning

Answer 10

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 11

flood relief channels

Answer 11

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 12

flood risk

Answer 12

The predicted frequency of floods in an area.

Question 13

flood warning

Answer 13

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

Question 14

fluvial processes

Answer 14

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

Question 15

gorge

Answer 15

A narrow, steep sided valley, often formed as a waterfall retreats upstream. Hard engineering 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 16

hydraulic action

Answer 16

The force of the river against the banks can cause air to be trapped in cracks and crevices. The pressure weakens the banks and gradually wears it away.

Question 17

hydrograph

Answer 17

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

Question 18

interlocking spurs

Answer 18

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

Question 19

lateral erosion

Answer 19

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 20

levees

Answer 20

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

Question 21

long profile

Answer 21

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

Question 22

meander

Answer 22

a pronounced bend in a river

Question 23

ox-bow lake

Answer 23

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

Question 24

precipitation

Answer 24

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

Question 25

saltation

Answer 25

Particles bouncing down the riverbed

Question 26

soft engineering

Answer 26

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 27

solution

Answer 27

Soluble particles are dissolved into the river.

Question 28

(channel) straightening

Answer 28

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

Question 29

suspension

Answer 29

Fine solid material held in the water while the water is moving. Traction The rolling of boulders and pebbles along the riverbed.

Question 30

vertical erosion

Answer 30

Downward erosion of a riverbed. Waterfall 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.