river processes and features

Question 1

what is the long profile of a river…

Answer 1

means its shape from the source to the mouth

Question 2

what is gradient, does it change downstream and if so why…

Answer 2

• the steepness of the slope the river flows down
• gets less steep
• the river does more downwards erosion near the source, and more sideways erosion near the mouth

Question 3

what is depth, does it change downstream and if so why…

Answer 3

• measure from top of water to river bed. take average across the river
• gets deeper
• the river erodes downwards as it travels (vertical erosion)

Question 4

what is width, does it change downstream and if so why…

Answer 4

• distance from one side of the river to the other
• gets wider
• the river erodes sideways as it travels (lateral erosion)

Question 5

What is discharge, does it change downstream and if so why…

Answer 5

• amount of water passing a point in a certain time-cumecs (cubic meters of water per second
• increases
• more water flows into the river from each tributary. Water flows faster with less friction