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Rivers Flashcards

1
Q

What is hydraulic action in a river

A

Force of the river against the banks can cause air to be trapped in gaps in the soil. The force of the water weakens the banks and gradually wears it away

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2
Q

Where does hydraulic action happen in a river

A

Upper and middle course

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3
Q

What is abrasion in a river

A

Rocks carried along by the river, scrape along the river bed and banks

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4
Q

Where is abrasion in a river

A

The upper and middle course

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5
Q

What is attrition in a river

A

Rocks carried by river smash together and break into smaller particles

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6
Q

Where does attrition happen in a river

A

The middle and lower course

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7
Q

What is solution in a river

A

The soluble particles are dissolved into the river

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8
Q

Where does solution happen in a river

A

The lower course

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9
Q

What is suspension in a river

A

Fine, light material is carried along by the river

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10
Q

Where does suspension happen in a river

A

Middle and lower course

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11
Q

What is saltation in a river

A

Small particles and stones are bounded along the river bed

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12
Q

Where is saltation in a river

A

Upper and middle course

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13
Q

What is traction in a river

A

Large boulders and rocks are rolled along the river bed

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14
Q

Where is tractions in a river

A

Upper course

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15
Q

What does permeable rock mean

A

Water can soak in

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16
Q

What does impermeable rock mean

A

Water can’t soak in

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17
Q

What are the physical factors affecting flood risk

A

Heavy rainfall, steep land and permeable rock

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18
Q

How does heavy rainfall affect flood risk

A

It’s more likely to flood as the soil gets saturated quicker so there is more overland flow making the river discharge increase

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19
Q

How does permeable rock affect the flood risk

A

It is less likely to flood because the ground can absorb more water so there is less overland flow and the river discharge decreases

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20
Q

How does steep land affect the flood risk

A

It is more likely to flood because there is a rapid water transfer so the overland flow is fast and the river discharge increases

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21
Q

What are the human factors affecting flood risk

A

Urban areas, rural areas and deforestation

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22
Q

What are the four erosion types in a river

A

Attrition
Abrasion
Hydraulic action
Solution

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23
Q

What are the four transport types in a river

A

Traction
Solution
Saltation
Suspension

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24
Q

How does urban area affect the flood risk

A

More likely to flood because water doesn’t infiltrate into the land as most surfaces are permeable therefore more overland flow and more river discharges

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25
How do rural areas affect the flood risk
Less likely to flood because more water infiltrates into the land as most surfaces are permeable therefore less overland flow and less river discharge
26
How does deforestation affect the flood risk
More likely to flood because water infiltrates until the land more often as the trees aren’t there to intercept the water so the ground gets saturated quicker therefore more overland flow and more river discharge
27
What is the source
Start of the river in the upland area
28
What are the three courses of a river
Upper middle and lower course
29
What land forms do you find in the upper course
Waterfalls Gorges
30
What are the characteristics of the upper course
Steep gradient Narrow V shaped valley Shallow Small water volume High energy Large sediment loads erosion
31
What is a confluence
Where a tributary meets the main river
32
What is a tributary
Smaller stream that joins the main river
33
What land forms are found in the middle course
Meanders
34
What are the characteristics of the middle course
Gradient lessens Wider valley Gently sloping Agriculture Less energy Greater water volume Wider and deeper Smaller sediment load
35
What is a meander
A pronounced bend in the river usually in the middle course
36
What happens at a slip off slope
More friction Slow flowing water Deposition Shallow
37
What happens at a river cliff
Less friction Fast flowing water Erosion Deep
38
What is the mouth
End of the river where it meets the sea
39
What land forms at found at the lower course
Flood plains Levees
40
What are the characteristics of the lower course
Nearly flat Valley widens Broader and deeper Lots of agriculture High volume of water Fine sediment load deposition
41
What is condensation
Water drops from gas to liquid
42
What is precipitation
Water falls from the sky
43
What is transpiration
Water evaporated out of plants
44
What is infiltration
Rain moves into land
45
What is run off
Water flows over land
46
What is groundwater flow
Rain moves through land
47
What is evaporation
Water drops turn into gas and move into sky
48
What is hard engineering for rivers
Using heavy machinery to build artificial structure which work against nature to reduce the Rick of flooding
49
What is soft engineering for rivers
When schemes are set up using knowledge of a river to reduce the effects of flooding More ecologically sensitive
50
What are the 4 soft engineering for rivers
Flood plain zoning River restoration Planting trees Flood warnings
51
What are the four hard engineering for rivers
Flood-relief channel Embankments Dans and reservoirs Channel straightening
52
How does planting trees reduce the risk of flooding
Increases interception and lag time which is the distance between peak rainfall and peak discharge Discharge in river reduced Foil erosion risk reduced
53
What is channel straightening
Straightening meanders by digging straighter shorter channels in meanders
54
How does channel straightening reduce the risk of flooding
Speeds up water flow in flood prone areas to stop water hanging about
55
Problems with channel straightening
More erosion downstream due to water flowing faster
56
What is a dam
Built along a course of the river to control discharge as it holds water back and releases it under control
57
Problems with dams and reservoirs
Expensive
58
Advantages of dams and reservoirs
Water used to generate hydroelectric power, drinking water, recreation purposes
59
What is an embankment
Raised walls built along river banks
60
How do embankments reduce risk of flooding
River can hold more water so it floods less frequent which protects flood plain land
61
Problems with embankments
Relatively expensive
62
What is flood relief channel
When channels are built to divert the water around important areas or take it elsewhere if the water level gets too high
63
How do flood relief channels reduce flood risks
River discharge reduced and gates can be added task release or water is controlled
64
What are flood warnings
When environmental agency monitors rivers and issue warnings via newspapers, TV, radio and the internet
65
Advantages of flood warnings
People have time to protect properties so many possessions can be saved resulting in fewer insurance claims
66
What is river restoration
Returning a river to its natural state by removing any man made levees or river straightening
67
How does river restoration reduce flood risk
Discharge in river reduced so less risk of flooding downstream
68
Advantages of river restoration
Biodiversity maintained Low cost as little to no maintenance required
69
What is flood plain zoning
Allowing only certain land uses on the floodplain
70
Advantages of flood plain zoning
Reduces flood risk to houses and important buildings Less damage so fewer insurance claims
71
Where are interlocking spurs found
In the upper course
72
How are interlocking spurs created
The river isn’t powerful enough to erode laterally so it winds around the hillsides made of resistant rock
73
What are levees
Raised embankments at the side of the river channel
74
How are levees formed
When river bursts its banks, friction with land reduces energy and causes deposition Heavy sediment deposited close to river Sediment sizes become smaller further away from river After flooding banks build up higher Natural levees build up after many floods
75
What are flood plains
Large area of flat land either side of river that is prone to flooding
76
Where are flood plains found
Middle and lower course
77
How are flood plains formed
Meanders move across flood plain from lateral erosion The river floods abs deposits silt which builds up forming thick deposit of fertile land
78
What is a bluff
Edge of floodplain
79
How is an oxbow lake formed
Neck of meander gets narrower from erosion River cuts through neck and shortens its course Leaves behind old river which is cut off by deposition
80
How is a waterfall formed
Water flows over hard rock with layer of soft rock underneath Soft rock eroded by hydraulic action and abrasion Creates step in river Water erodes soft rock further and undercuts hard rock creating steep drop Plunge pool forms and hard rock is unsupported so collapses Rocks swirl around and erode soft rock Process repeats and waterfall retreats leaving steep sided valley called gorge
81
Where are estuaries found
Mouth of river
82
How are estuaries formed
Water floods over banks carrying silt onto valley floor High tide water moves slowly so deposits sediment Mud builds up over time creating large mud flats At low tide wide muddy banks are exposed
83
Characteristics of a low hydrograph
Large basins Permeable rocks Forests Gentle slopes Dry soils Light rain Low density
84
Characteristics of a flashy hydro graph
Small basin Impermeable rocks Urbanisation Steep slopes Saturated soils Heavy rain High density
85
What do hydro graphs show
Ho writers respond to storms
86
What is the rising limb on a hydro graph
Water enters the river and discharge increases
87
What is the lag time of a hydro graph
Gap between peak rainfall and peak discharge

Geography (5 decks)

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