Rivers Flashcards
What is the source?
The start or beginning of a river
What is the course?
The route a river takes to the sea
What is a confluence
The point where 2 rivers/streams meet/ join together
What is a tribibutary?
a stream/smaller river that flows into a larger river
What is the mouth?
The point where a river ends
What is the drainage baisin?
The area of land drained by a river
What are the 3 stages of a river
Youthful stage(upper)
mature stage (middle)
Old stage (old stage)
What is hydraulic action?
The physical force of the moving water wears away the banks and bed of the river
What is abrasion?
Small stones carried by the river wear away the banks and bed of the river
What is attrition?
Small stones in a river are worn down and broken up as they hit off eachother
What is solution?
Rocks in the river are dissolved
What is the material carried by the river called?
The load
What is rolling?
Large stones are rolled along the bed of a river.
This process is known as traction
What is bouncing?
Small pebbles bounce on the bed of the river.
This process is known as saltation
What is suspension?
Light materials like sand float along the river.
In the youthful stage does the water flow fast or slow
Fast
What type of erosion happens in the youthful stage when the river is steep and flowing fast
Vertical erosion
Name 3 features of a youthful stage river
V shaped valley, interlocking spur and a waterfall
Why does a mature stage river have more power and volume
tribituaries have joined
Name 2 features of a mature stage river
ox bow lake, meander
What is a floodplain?
A wide flat area of land on either side of the river in its old stage.
Name 4 ways people use rivers
energy, settlement, transport and tourisim
What is a flood?
A flood is a body of water covering whats normally dry land
