Rivers Flashcards
Source
The beginning of or start of a river
What is the course?
The route a river takes to the sea
Confluence
The point at which 2 rivers or streams join together
What is the mouth?
The point where a river comes to the end, usually when entering the sea
What is a drainage basin?
The area of land drained by a river
What is a watershed?
The area of high ground which separates 2 drainage basins
What is an estuary?
The part of the river mouth that’s tidal
What do the different stages reflect
The change in gradient
What are the 3 stages of a river?
Youthful stage (upper)
Mature stage (middle)
Old stage (lower)
Youthful stage characteristics
Steep
Fast flowing
Creates erosion
Mature stage characteristics
Gently sloping
Starts to slow down the flow
Transports rocks
Old stage characteristics
Little to no slope
Little to no flow
Deposits rocks in sea
4 ways the river erodes
Hydraulic action
Abrasion
Solution
Attrition
Hydraulic power
Power of water
Abrasion
Using its load (stuff it carries) to break down the -banks -floor of the rivers
Solution
Rivers can dissolve some rocks e.g. limestone, chalk
Attrition
Rocks collide, causing friction and break down
Erosion
The river wears the landscape away
Transportation
The river carries the material it has erroded
Deposition
The river drops the material it was carrying
What are the 4 processes of river transportation?
Rolling
Bouncing
Suspension
Solution
What is rolling (river transportation)?
When the larger stones are rolled along the bed of the river, this is known as traction.
What is bouncing (river transportation)?
When the smaller pebbles are bounced along the bed of the river, this is known as saltation.
What is suspension (river transportation)?
When light materials such as sand and silt float along in the river.
What does solution have to do with transportation?
The materials dissolved in the water and are then carried along by the river
What are the 4 causes of river deposition?
Reduction in the river’s speed
Increase in load size
Reduction in the river’s volume
When the gradient levels off
What does reduction in the river’s speed have to do with river deposition?
This can happen when a river enters a lake or sea, or during a period of dry weather.
What does increase in load size have to do with river deposition?
This can happen when a tributary joins a river, or after a period of heavy rainfall. the river then does not have the energy to carry its increased load so it drops it.
When does reduction in the river’s volume happen?
This can happen during a period of dry weather
When do the gradient levels go off?
This occurs when the rivers reaches flatter land.
What is discharge?
The flow of water downwards through a river.
Name 5 ways people interact with rivers:
- Transport
- Tourism
- Hydroelectric power (HEP)
- Fishing
- Domestic water supply
How do we pollute rivers?
- Farming: When farmers spread slurry on their land, it can seep into rivers, polluting them and killing fish.
- Domestic: waste materials from septic tanks can seep into rivers, polluting them in a similar way.
- Industrial waste: If factories dump waste into rivers it can also cause pollution. Not only fish , but birds and animals that live close to the river may be poisoned.
What is HEP?
HEP stations are often built on dams, its’ power of the water is used to generate cheap, clean and renewable energy.
How do humans cause flooding in rivers?
We cut down trees that can lead to more surface run-off of rainwater because there are no trees to absorb the water. It also leads to soil erosion because there no longer are trees to hold them in place which can mean the soil will be deposited on river beds. this will cause the river to rise and burst its banks.
