Rivers

Question 1

Define source

Answer 1

Where a river begins

Question 2

Define drainage basin

Answer 2

The area from which water drains into the river

Question 3

Define watershed

Answer 3

An imaginary line that separates two drainage basins

Question 4

Define confluence

Answer 4

The point where two rivers join together

Question 5

Define tributaries

Answer 5

Smaller rivers which join the main river

Question 6

Define flood plain

Answer 6

Land that floods when a river overflows

Question 7

Define mouth

Answer 7

Where the river flows into the sea or lake

Question 8

Define river bed

Answer 8

The bottom of a river channel

Question 9

Define river bank

Answer 9

The side of a river channel

Question 10

Define channel

Answer 10

Rivers flow into this

Question 11

What is the river long profile?

Answer 11

It shows how a river’s gradient changes as it flows from its source to its mouth

Question 12

What are the three courses of a river?

Answer 12

Upper, middle and lower

Question 13

Features of the upper course (list 4)

Answer 13

• Steep
• small
• flows fast
• high energy levels
• river cuts away at its bed
• quickly deepens (DOWNWARD EROSION)
• v shaped valleys

Question 14

Features of the middle course (list 3)

Answer 14

• flows slowly
• transports lots of sediment
• wider
• meanders + ox-bow lakes
• more tributaries join

Question 15

Features of the lower course (list 2)

Answer 15

• windy river
• large floodplain
• deposition is dominant

Question 16

Define erosion

Answer 16

The gradual removal of rock from a river’s bed and banks

Question 17

What is corrosion / abrasion?

Answer 17

This is the process but which the bed and banks are worn down by the river’s load. This river throws these particles against the bed and banks, sometimes at high velocity

Question 18

What is attrition?

Answer 18

Material (the load) carried by the river bump into each other and so are smoothed and broken down into smaller particles

Question 19

What is solution / corrosion?

Answer 19

This is the chemical action of river water. The acids in the water slowly dissolve the bed and banks

Question 20

What is hydraulic action?

Answer 20

This process involves the force of the water against the bed and banks

Question 21

What is discharge?

Answer 21

The amount of water flowing in a river per second

Question 22

What are the FOUR transportation processes?

Answer 22

1. Suspension
2. Solution
3. Saltation
4. Traction

Question 23

What is deposition?

Answer 23

Dropping material. It occurs regularly along the river bed, this is due to a lack of energy

Question 24

What is a meander?

Answer 24

Bends in the riveer

Question 25

Where are meanders found?

Answer 25

Middle course

Question 26

What are ox-bow lakes?

Answer 26

Horse-shoe shaped area that represents the former course of a meander

Question 27

Name TWO examples of physical causes of flooding:

Answer 27

• steep land
• impermeable rock
• heavy rain
• snow melting

Question 28

Name TWO examples of human causes of flooding:

Answer 28

• farming
• urbanisation
• deforestation
• channelisation