rivers Flashcards
what are the 4 types of erosion
hydraulic action, abrasion,attrition,solution
what is abrasion
when pebbles grind along the river bank and bed
what is attrition
when rocks the river is carrying knock against each other other. they break apart to become smaller
what is solution
when the water dissolves certain types of rocks
what is hydraulic action
the sheer power of water as it smashes against the riverbanks. air gets trapped in the cracks of the riverbank causing the rock to break apart
what are the 4 types of transportation
traction,saltation,suspension,solution
what is traction
large pe
what is saltation
when pebbles bounce along the riverbed most commonly near the source
what is traction
large heavy pebbles are rolled along the riverbed
what is suspension
suspension is when the lighter sediment is carried within the water commonly near the mouth of the river
what is solution
the transport of dissolved chemicals
what is deposition
deposition is when the river loses energy and drops any of the material it has been carrying
factors leading to deposition are:
shallow water, when the volume of the water decreases
what is the source
where a river begins
what is the mouth
where the river meets the sea
what is the tributary
a small river or stream that joins a larger river
what is the long profile of a river
a long profile is a line representing the river from its source to its mouth. it shows how the river changes over its course
what is the upper course
the beginning or upstream part of the river where the rivers load is typically larger as it hasn’t been broken by erosion yet
what is the lower course
the land is flatter, the rivers load is fine sediment as erosion has broken down the rocks
what is the cross profile
shows the cross section of a rivers channel and valley at a certain point along the rivers course
what is interlocking spurs
Interlocking spurs are ridges that form in river valleys when the river winds around obstacles.
what is a meander
A meander is when a river curves and bends in a winding pattern, usually forming S-shaped loops.
what are oxbow lakes
Oxbow lakes are formed when a meandering river cuts off a meander bend, creating a U-shaped lake.
what is a floodplain
a floodplain is an area of land which is covered in water when a river bursts its banks
