Rivers Flashcards
1
Q
Evaporation
A
When water is taken up into the sky
Liquid -> gas
2
Q
Transpiration
A
When water gets evaporated off trees
3
Q
Condensation
A
Water turns into clouds
Gas -> liquid
4
Q
Precipitation
A
When water falls out of the sky as sleet, rain, hail or snow
5
Q
Surface flow
A
When water travels along the surface
6
Q
Infiltration
A
When water soaks into the ground
7
Q
Through flow
A
When water travels through the hill after it is absorbed
8
Q
Ground water flow
A
When water flows through the rocks
9
Q
Interception
A
Trees intercept the water from reaching the ground
10
Q
What is a drainage basin
A
A catchment area for precipitation. The rain is drained by one river and it’s tributaries
11
Q
What is the longest route through the hydrological cycle
A
Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, percolation, ground water flow
12
Q
What is the hydrological cycle
A
Water cycle
13
Q
Watershed
A
Area of high land that separates drainage basins
14
Q
Source
A
The start of a river in an area of high land
15
Q
Tributary
A
A small river or stream
16
Q
Confluence
A
Where two or more rivers meet
17
Q
River channel
A
The main river channel
18
Q
Mouth
A
The end of a river where it meets the sea
19
Q
What is a characteristic
A
A description of what the area is like
20
Q
What is a feature
A
A land form that has been created
21
Q
Characteristics of the upper Course of a river
A
High above sea level
Wet / boggy / saturated soil
Fast flowing - high carrying capacity
Large bed load
Verticals erosion
22
Q
Characteristics of the middle Course of a river
A
Land gets flatter
Deeper + wider
Less vertical + more lateral erosion
Bed load gets smaller
23
Q
Characteristics of the lower Course of a river
A
Flat land - flooding
River widens
Tidal flow
24
Q
Features of the upper course of the river
A
V- shaped valley
Waterfalls
Gorge
Interlocking Spurs
River rapids
25
Features of the middle course of the river
Meander
River cliff / slip off slope
Ox-bow lake
U-shaped valley
26
Features of the lower course of the river
Estuary
Mud flows
Deltas
Ox-bow lake
Flood planes
27
What Increases in size as u travel downstream
Discharge
Occupied channel width
Channel depth
Average velocity
Load quantity
28
What decreases in size as you travel downstream
Load particle size
Channel bed toughness
Slope angle gradient
29
Why does discharge increase as you travel downstream
More tributaries join
30
Why does occupied channel width increase as you travel downstream
More lateral erosion as the ground is flatter
31
Why does channel depth increase as you travel downstream
More abrasion + HA due to increase in energy
32
Why does average velocity increase as you travel downstream
River is large so there is less friction
33
Why does load quantity increase as you travel downstream
Abrasion + attrition have broken the rocks down
34
Does the upper course of the river seem slow or fast and what speed is it
Seems fast but it slow
35
Formation of a waterfall
A band of hard rock lies over a band of soft rock
A plunge pool is formed at the base of the waterfall due to the force of the water
The soft rock is more easily eroded so the hard rock overhangs the soft rock
Eventually the hard rock cannot support itself and it collapses
The waterfall retreats over time leaving a gorge 
36
What erosion types cause the formation of plunge pools
HA
Abrasion
37
What is the name of the waterfall on the river tees
High force waterfall
38
What hard and soft rock is there on high force waterfall (river tees)
Hard rock - winstone
Soft rock - limestone
39
What is the upper course ground like the the river tees
Desolate, Moreland, very wet, saturated soil
High up in Pennines (893m)
40
What is the river tees like in the upper course
Narrow river
River rapids
41
Where is the source of the river tees near to
Close to cross fell at tees head
42
Where is the high force waterfall close to
Forest in Teasdale
43
What is high force waterfalls drop and gorge size
20 meter drop to plunge pool
Gorge runs 700m
44
What develops on the middle course of the river sees and where is that near
Meanders develop through a lower gradient past barnard castle
45
What is the river tees like in the middle course
River gets faster + wider
Smaller bed load (as lots of abrasion and attrition has occurred)
Land becomes flatter (as more lateral erosion)
46
What feature may develop in the lower course and where is it near
Meander may eventually develop into an ox-bow lake as the neck of the meander becomes narrower
Sockburn
47
What is the river like in the lower course is the river tees
Mudflats sandbanks
Wide deep
Lots of sediment
Industrial
48
Why does the river flow faster in the middle course than the upper course
The volume of water increases leaves more energy once friction is overcome
So the river erodes laterally instead of vertically
So the river is wider
49
Why is there more water volume further down the river
More tributaries have joined and there is more surface run offn
50
Is the meander undercutting on the outside or inside bend
Outside
51
Is the meander slip of slope on the outside or inside bend
Inside
52
Is the area of deposition on the side of undercutting or slip off slope in a meander
Slip off slope
53
Is the river slowest or fastest on the inside bend
Slowest
54
What side of the meander is the river cliff
Outer bend
55
Why does the river erode through the outer bend (bottle neck) and with what processes
Because it’s the faster path
HA and abrasion
56
Does the inner bend have erosion of deposition and what does this cause
Deposition
Cuts of the meander leaving an ox-bow lake
57
How is an Ox-bow lake formed (6 marks)
The river has meanders which is where the river bends
The river is the slowest On the inner bend and fastest on the outer bend
Therefor it leads too Deposition on the inner bend and erosion caused by abrasion and hydraulic action on the outer bend
This errors through the bottleneck with a river cliff on the outer bend and slip off slope on the inner bend
The inner bend deposit sediment and cuts off meander as the river takes the fastest route causing an oxbow lake

58
Why is the lowest course the fastest part of the river
Flows over a gentle gradient
Flows in a deep wide channel so there is much less friction and the volume of water is larger
59
How big is the load of the lower course of the river and how does it carry it
Small load
Suspension and solution
60
What features are on the lower course
Floodplane
Embankments called levees (can be natural or artificial)
61
What two things in the river tees are artificial
Cow green reservoir
Artificial straightening of 2 meanders over a 3 mile stretch of the channel for shipping
(Near Stockton) north of yarm
62
What are the 4 natural causes of flooding
Geology (impermeable rock)
Glaciers melting
Precipitation
Relief (steep land) so less time to infiltrate
(All increase surface run off so increase water)
63
What are the 2 human causes of flooding
Urbanisation (less infiltration / impermeable ground)
Deforestation (less interception)
64
Why does precipitation lead to flooding
Torrential rainstorms can lead to sudden flash floods as a river channels cannot contain the sheer volume of water flowing into them
Steady rainfall over several days can also lead to flooding in low-lying land river basins
65
Why does urbanisation lead to flooding
Building on a floodplain creates impermeable surfaces such as tarmac roads concrete driveways and slate roofs
Water is transferred quickly to drains and sewers and then taken into urban river channels
This rapid movement of water makes flooding more likely
66
Why does deforestation lead to flooding
Much of the water that falls on trees is evaporated or stored temporarily on leaves and branches
Trees also use up water as they grow
When trees are removed much more water is suddenly able to transfer rapidly into river channels increasing flood risk
67
Why does steep slopes cause flooding
In mounting environment steep slopes encourage a rapid transfer of water toward river channels
68
Why does geology cause flooding
Impermeable rocks such as sales in clays encourage water to flow over land and into the channels this speeds up water flow and make flooding more likely
69
Why does agriculture lead to flooding
In arable farming soil is left unused and expose the elements for periods of time this can lead to more surface run-off this is increased if the land is ploughed up and down steep slopes as water can flow quickly how long the furrows 
70
What is a flood plane
The wide flatter valley floor surrounding the river
71
What helps create a floodplane
The rivers lateral erosion as it meanders
72
Are the small or larger sediments deposited close the the river channel
Larger the smaller are carried further away then deposited
73
What covers a floodplane after a flood
Sediments
74
What does the sediment after a flood cause by a river
Levees or large natural embankments close to channel
75
What is a floodplain
On wide flat area of Marshy land on either side of the river and found in the middle and lower course
they made of sediment deposited by a river when it floods are useful for farming as the soil is very fertile
76
How is a floodplain formed
Meanders migrate across the floodplain due to lateral erosion when they reach the edge of the floodplain they erroad the valley side
When the river floods it deposited silt creating a very flat floodplain
layers upon layers built up over many years to form a thick fertile ground
77
What is a levee
A raised river banks found alongside a river in its lower course
78
How is the levee formed
Formed by flooding over many years
During low flood conditions deposition takes place raising the river bed and reducing the capacity of the channel when flooding occurs water flows over the side of the channel
Gradually after many floods the height of the banks can be raised by as much as 2 m
79
What is an estuary
Transitional zones between river and coastal environment and are affected by both wave action and river processes
80
How is an estuary formed
During rising tide river water is Unable to be discharged into the sea the rivers Velocity falls and sediment is deposited at low tides These deposits form extensive mudflats overtime
Mudflats develop into important natural habitats called salt marshes
81
What is the main process in the formation of an estuary
Deposition
82
What is the calculation to find discharge + units
Discharge (m3/sec) = cross section area (m2) x velocity (m/sec)
83
What is basin lag time
Time difference between the peak of the rain storm and the peak flow of the river
84
How is the rain in mm presented on a flood hydrograph
As a bar chart
85
What is the rising limb in a flood hydrograph
Rising flood water in the river
86
What is peak flow on a hydrograph
Maximum discharge in the river
87
How is the discharge of the river presented on a flood hydrograph
As a line
88
What is a falling limb on a flood hydrograph
Falling flood water in the river
89
What is hard engineering (flood defences)
Involves using man made structures to prevent Or control flooding and issues expensive
90
What is soft engineering (flood defences)
Involves working with a natural process to manage the flood risk
91
Three examples of hard engineering (flood defences)
Embankments
Dams + reservoirs
Flood relief channels
92
Three examples of soft engineering (flood defences)
Flood warning
Afforestation
Flood plane zoning
93
Why the Impacts of flooding are worse in LICS (2 reasons)
Poor housing / infrastructure
Poor communication
94
Why the Impacts of flooding are worse in LICS due to poor housing and infrastructure (multiplier effect)
Home is a more easily destroyed
People become homeless
Live in temporary accommodation
Overcrowded and poor sanitation
More risk to waterborne diseases such as cholera
More people die from secondary impacts of the flooding
95
Why the Impacts of flooding are worse in LICS due to poor communication
Like a warning from TV/media
Lets people aware of hazard
Less people evacuate time
More people drown or suffer from waterbourne diseases such as cholera 
96
4 hard engineering schemes for controlling flooding
Dams / reservoirs
Channel straightening
Embankments
Flood relief channels
97
How does a dam / reservoir work to control flooding
Regulates water flow
during periods of high rainfall water Can be stored in the reservoir it can then be released when rainfall is low
98
How does a channel straightening work to control flooding
Involves cutting through meanders to create a straight channel speeding up the flow of water
99
How does a embankments work to control flooding
Raise riverbank
Allows river channel to hold more water before flooding occurs
100
How does a flood relief channels work to control flooding
A man made a river channel constructed to bypass an urban area
During times of flood swice gates that open to allow excess water to flow away into relief channel
101
Negatives of dams / reservoirs
Expensive
Often floods large areas of land so people have to move
102
Positivities of dams + reservoirs
Very effective
HEP
Irrigation
Recreation
Water supply
103
Negatives of channel straightenings
Increase flood risk further downstream
Unattractive
Damage to wildlife + habitats
104
Positives of channel straightening
Speeds up flow of river
Prevents river bank from collapsing
105
Negatives of embankments
Expensive
Looks unnatural
106
Positives of embankments
Prevents flooding of valuable property
107
Negatives of flood relief channels
Expensive
Can damage the environment and habitats
108
Benefits of flood relief channels
Reduces the threat of flood in urban areas
109
What are 4 scemes of soft engineering in river flood defences
Flood warnings and preparation
Flood plain zoning
Planting trees (afforestation)
River restoration
110
How does a flood warnings and preparation work to control flooding
Rivers are monitored and environmental agency issue food warnings if flooding is likely
Warning sent to public and emergency services
111
How does a flood plain zoning work to control flooding
Restricted different land uses to certain locations and floodplain areas close to river kept clear of high-value land uses such as housing and industry
112
How does planting trees work to control flooding
Planting trees to establish a woodland or forest
Trees intercept the flow of water and slow down the transfer to the river channels
113
How does river restoration work to control flooding
Where the course of a river has been changed artificially
(river restoration can return to its original course)
114
Negatives of flood warnings + preparation as a flood defence
Not always accurate so people could loose trust in environmental agency
Property values + insurance premiums increase
115
Positives of flood warnings + preparation as flood defence
Allows local authorities + emergency services time to prepare with temporary barriers , evacuation, closing roads
Reduces impacts
116
Negatives of river restoration as a flood defence
Expensive
May cause disruption to habitat while restoration is taking place
117
Positives of river restoration as a flood defence
Slows down river flow
Reduces the likelihood of flooding downstream
118
Negatives of afforestation as a flood defence
Trees take a long time to grow before they are fully established
Takes up space
119
Positives of afforestation as a flood defence
Relatively cheap
Good for environment
120
Where is Leeds located
Leeds is located north of England in Yorkshire
It’s in land with a population of about 780,000
It’s also NE of Manchester
121
Why was the flood management scheme in leeds required
There was a bad flood in 2015 causing lots of flooding in Leeds (as it was on a floodplain of river aire) the river rose to 2.95 m when it’s usually at 0.9 m
environmental agency issued a red weather warning as a result of storm Eva
the land use in this location is important (industry housing built on surrounding land)
122
Effects on leeds of the flood in 2015 (storm eva)
Damage to Leeds was £36.8 million with wider city region closer to £500 million (economic )
3355 properties were damaged ( 672 businesses)
123
What was the idea of phase 1 of the flood management scheme
Protecting against a 1 in 100 year flood event
124
What were the three strategies of flood the flood management scheme
Moveable weirs
Merging the river + channel
Flood walls, glazed panels , embankments
125
Where were moveable weirs placed as a part of the flood management scheme + how does this help in a flood
At crown point + knos tron
They can be lowered to create more room for flood water
And potential reducing flood levels by up to 1 meter
126
As a part of the flood management scheme they removed how much land and where as a result of merging the river and canal
600m stretch
Known as knostrop island
127
How does merging river and canal reduce flooding (leeds case study)
Creates additional capasity for flood water
Creates lower level on flood conditions
128
How does flood walls, glazed panels a d embankments prevent aga sit flood and how far do they stretch in the flood management scheme in leeds
Reduces capacity in time of flood
4.5km stretech
129
Social positives of the flood management scheme in Leeds
Main routes will remain open in floods reducing disruption for people
QOL will improve for people with new green areas
Also reduces anxiety and depression
130
Economic positives of the flood management scheme in Leeds
Protects houses and businesses
131
Environmental positives of the flood management scheme in Leeds
Weir reduces flooding
Thousands of new trees is natural flood management is good for environment
Part of flood plane will be allowed to deliberate flood potentials helping habitats
132
Economic negatives of the flood management scheme in Leeds
Costs 50 mill so far
Expected to be 100 mill when completed
133
Environmental costs of the flood management scheme in Leeds
Habitats removed / destroyed as part of merging river and canal
Allowing part of floodplane to deliberately flood may damage habitats
