river processes and pressures Flashcards
(47 cards)
deforestation
the chopping down and removal of trees to clear an area of forest
confluence
a point at which two streams or rivers meet
deposition
the dropping of sediment that was being carried by a moving force
drainage basin
the area of land drained by a river and it’s tributaries
erosion
the wearing away and removal of material by a moving force
flood plain
the relatively flat area forming the valley floor on either side of a river channel, which is sometimes flooded
flood risk
the predicted frequency of floods in an area
geology
the science and study of the earths crust and it’s components
hard engineering
using solid structures to resist forces of erosion
hydrograph
a graph which shows discharge of a river, related to rainfall, over a period of time
integrated river management
a holistic system of managing rivers that takes an overview of the whole river basin and the relationship between it’s different parts
interlocking spurs
areas of high land which stick out into a steep-sided valley
levee
natural embankments of sediment along the banks of a river
long profile
the gradient of a river, from its source to mouth
lower course
the part of a river system that is close to the mouth
meander
the bends in a river
middle course
the central section of a river’s course
mouth
the point where the river enters a lake or sea
ox-bow lake
an arc-shaped lake which has been cut off from a meandering river
river cliff
steep outer edge of a meander where erosion is at it’s highest
sediment
usually sand, mud or pebbles deposited by a river
slip-off slope
inner gentle slope of a meander where deposition takes place
tributary
a stream or small river that joins a larger stream or river
upper course
the source area of a river, often in an upland or mountainous region
