Rivers Flashcards
What is a drainage basin?
A drainage basin is the area of land drained by a river.
How is a river drainage basin outlined?
It is outlined by a boundary of high ground.
What is a valley?
An area with higher ground on either side. Where a river runs through.
What is a floodplain?
The land either side of the river which may flood if the river overflows.
What is a mouth?
Where the river ends and meets the sea
What is a confluence?
The meeting point of two rivers.
What is a tributary?
Smaller rivers meeting a main one
What is a watershed?
Imaginary outline of a river basin. An area of
higher ground.
What is a river basin?
The area inside the watershed where all rain will collect into a river.
What is the source?
Where the river starts
What is Deposition?
Rivers are the same and deposit the heaviest material first. Sediment can be transported as pebbles, sand and mud, or as salts dissolved in water. Salts may later be deposited by organic activity
What is traction?
Traction- large boulders and rocks are rolled along the river bed
What is saltation?
Saltation- small pebbles and stones are bounced along the river bed.
What is suspension?
Suspension- fine light material is carried along in the water.
What is solution?
Solution- soluble rocks are dissolved into the river
