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Geography > Rivers > Flashcards

Rivers Flashcards

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1
Q

What landforms do you find in the upper course of a river?

A

V-shaped valleys
Interlocking spurs
Waterfall
Gorge

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2
Q

What landforms do you find in the middle course of a river?

A

Oxbow lakes
Meanders

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3
Q

What landforms do you find in the lower course of a river?

A

Floodplain
Levées
Meanders

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4
Q

In what section of the river are you more likely to find lateral erosion?

A

Middle + Lower

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5
Q

In what section of the river are you more likely to find large boulders?

A

Upper

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6
Q

In what section of the river are you more likely to get deposition taking place?

A

Lower

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7
Q

How does the cross profile change downstream?

A

Channel gets deeper and wider
Valley becomes flatter

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8
Q

Define drainage basin

A

The area of land drained by a river and its tributaries

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9
Q

Define source

A

Where a river begins

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10
Q

Define Tributary

A

A small river or stream that joins the larger river

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11
Q

Define mouth

A

The end of the river
Where it meets the sea or a lake

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12
Q

Define confluence

A

Where two rivers meet and join to form one larger river

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13
Q

How many sections does a river have?
Name them

A

3
Upper
Middle
Lower

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14
Q

What does a long profile show?

A

The gradient of a river as it journeys from source to mouth
(how steep it is)

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15
Q

What does a cross profile show?

A

A cross section of a river’s channel AND valley as it journeys from source to mouth

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16
Q

Describe the long profile in the upper course of a river

A

Very steep

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17
Q

Describe the long profile in the middle course of a river

A

Becomes flatter

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18
Q

Describe the long profile in the lower course of a river

A

Almost flat
Flattest

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19
Q

Describe the cross profile in the upper course of a river

A

Narrow
Shallow
V-shaped valleys

20
Q

Describe the cross profile in the middle course of a river

A

Wider
Deeper
U-shaped valleys

21
Q

Describe the cross profile in the lower course of a river

A

Widest
Deepest
U-shaped valleys
Floodplain has increased in size

22
Q

Define erosion

A

The breakdown and removal of sediment

23
Q

Define vertical and lateral erosion

A

Vertical - downwards erosion
Lateral - sideways erosion

24
Q

Name three landforms formed by erosion

A

Interlocking spurs
Waterfalls
Gorges

25
Q

What is the main type of erosion in the upper course?

A

Vertical erosion

26
Q

What is the main type of erosion in the middle course?

A

Lateral

27
Q

What is the main type of erosion in the lower course?

A

Lateral
However, deposition is more dominant

28
Q

What causes interlocking spurs?

A

River flowing around areas of hard rock, finding the easiest route

29
Q

What are interlocking spurs?

A

Areas of land which link together but are divided by the river between them

30
Q

Explain the processes involved in the formation of a gorge

A

Less resistant rock is eroded quicker than more resistant rock and this creates a step
As erosion continues, the more resistant rock is undercut which forms an overhang
Abrasion and hydraulic action create a plunge pool
The overhang will continue to be undercut and will eventually fall causing this process to be repeated as the waterfall retreats upstream
A steep sided valley is left where the waterfall was. This is called a gorge

31
Q

What two types of erosion create a plunge pool?

A

Hydraulic Action
Abrasion

32
Q

What is formed from undercutting?

A

An overhang

33
Q

Which type of rock erodes quicker?

A

Soft Rock (less resistant)

34
Q

Define meander

A

A bend in the river

35
Q

Where is the more energy on a meander?

A

Outside

36
Q

Describe the inside of a meander (including landform)

A

Slower flow
(Friction greater)
Less energy
Deposition
Slip-off slope

37
Q

Describe the outside of a meander (including landform)

A

Faster flow
More energy
Erosion
River Cliff

38
Q

Where is a river cliff formed on a meander?

A

Outside

39
Q

Where is a slip-off slope formed on a meander?

A

Inside

40
Q

What causes meanders to move and change shape?

A

A combination of lateral erosion and deposition

41
Q

Define oxbow lake

A

A U-shaped lake that forms when a wide meander of a river is cut off

42
Q

How is an oxbow lake formed?

A

Erosion can cause both sides of a meander to migrate towards each other
The neck becomes narrower and eventually the river breaks through
This forms a straighter channel and an oxbow lake

43
Q

Define Levée

A

An elevated bank along a river’s edge

44
Q

How does a Levée form?

A

When repeated flooding leads to deposition
The heaviest sediment is deposited first
And as the river loses energy, finer sediment (alluvium) is deposited further from the river

45
Q

Define floodplain

A

A wide, flat area of land on either side of a river that is often subject to flooding
They are composed of alluvium left by deposition during floods

46
Q

Define estuary

A

A wide, sheltered body of water found at a river’s mouth where is broadens into the sea.
It’s a mixture of freshwater from the river and saltwater from the sea

Geography (7 decks)

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