RIVERS Flashcards

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1
Q

Hydrological Cycle

A

the movement of water within a drainage basin

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2
Q

Infiltration

A

Water moving from surface to soil

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3
Q

Throughflow

A

– downhill transfer of water through the soil layer to the river

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4
Q

Percolation

A

deep transfer of water through permeable rocks

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5
Q

Base/groundwater flow

A

very slow transfer of water through rocks

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6
Q

Depression Storage

A

when water is temporarily stored on the ground in the form of puddles

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7
Q

Interception

A

vegetation which absorbs and slows down water transfer

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8
Q

Confluence

A

Where 2 rivers meet

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9
Q

Water budget

A

Shows changes in water balance over the year

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10
Q

Recharge

A

When precipitation exceeds potential evapotranspiration, but soil is yet to reach its field capacity

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11
Q

Surplus

A

precipitation exceeds potential evapotranspiration and soils reach full field capacity, creating run-off

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12
Q

Utilization

A

when potential evapotranspiration exceeds precipitation but soil storage is yet to reach 0

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13
Q

Deficit

A

When soil storage reaches 0

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14
Q

4 zones of the water budget

A

Recharge, surplus, utilizations, deficit

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15
Q

How does basin size effect water transfer?

A

Small basin – rapid water transfer

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16
Q

How does Drainage density effect water transfer?

A

High density speeds up transfer

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17
Q

How does land use effect water transfer?

A

Urbanisation encourages rapid water transfer Interception

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18
Q

How does relief effect water transfer?

A

Steep slopes lead to water with a higher velocity

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19
Q

How does soil moisture effect water transfer?

A

Saturated soils lead to rapid overland flow

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20
Q

Abrasion

A

grinding effect on the bed as eroded rock particles scour the banks

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21
Q

Hydraulic action

A

Action force of the water

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22
Q

Cavitation

A

Tiny bubbles of air implode in cracks of the river bed

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23
Q

Attrition

A

when rock particles hit each other, smoothening edges – explaining why particles downstream are more likely to be smaller and rounder

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24
Q

4 types of river transportation

A

Solution, suspension, Bedload : (saltation) and (traction)

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25
Q

Solution

A

dissolve – e.g. calcium carbonate from limestone

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26
Q

Suspension

A

carried within the main body of the river – fine grained mud

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27
Q

Saltation

A

series of small bounces – small stones

28
Q

Traction

A

larger stones and rocks which roll along the river bed.

29
Q

3 types of weathering

A

Mechanical, chemical, biological

30
Q

Chemical weathering

A

weathering- chemical changes in the rock – carbonic acid in rain, combining with limestone to create soluble calcium bicarbonate

31
Q

Biological Weathering

A

tree roots opening up rocks and releasing acids

32
Q

Hjulstrom curve

A

shows the relation ship between velocity of river

33
Q

Flocculate

A

Very small particle sticking together because of electric bonding

34
Q

What 6 things increase downstream? Schumm Model

A
  1. Velocity 2.Discharge 3.Amount of load 4.CSA 5.Hydraulic Radius 6.Wetted Perimeter
35
Q

What 5 things decrease downstream? Schumm Model

A

1.Turbelence 2.Friction 3.Gradient 4.Size of Load 5.Channel Roughness

36
Q

Vertical Erosion

A

removal of material by cutting into rock by rivers

37
Q

Lateral Erosion

A

general erosion or removal of surface material.

38
Q

Sinuous channel

A

meandering

39
Q

Eyot

A

island within a river cause by deposition

40
Q

Hydraulic radius

A

Measure of efficiency of a channel = CSA/ wetted perimeter, the higher this number the more efficient the river is

41
Q

rapids

A

Ridges of hard and soft rock create turbulent white water

42
Q

gorge

A

Sudden drop forms when the overhang of a waterfall collapses

43
Q

potholes

A

Circular depressions which are formed when rock fragments are drilled into holes and cavities creating turbulent whisky corrosion and therefore potholes

44
Q

waterfalls

A

Created when there is isostatic change so water fly’s off the cliff forming a plunge pool and an overhang

45
Q

Helicoidal flow

A

the flow is like a corkscrew spiralling - in a meander

46
Q

Wide floodplain

A

Area around the river that is covered during a flood - very fertile

47
Q

Bankfill discharge

A

Discharge measured when the river is at bankfill stage

48
Q

Bankfull stage

A

Completely full river any more will burst the bank

49
Q

Physical causes of flooding

A
  • impermeable rock - steep slopes -snowmelt -drainage density -intense and prolonged rainfall make the ground saturated
50
Q

Human causes of flooding

A
  • building construction creates impermeable surface - deforestation - agriculture- if ploughed downhill - #bad - ineffective flood management and warning
51
Q

Human factors of Cumbria nov/09

A

Cockermouth is situated at a confluence

52
Q

Physical factors of Cumbria nov/09

A

-record breaking rainfall - hot air from south Atlantic -steep slopes Impermeable rock

53
Q

Economic impact of Cumbria nov/09

A

-£100 million damage - death to livestock -agricultural machinery and buildings ruined - local businesses had to shut

54
Q

Social impact of Cumbria nov/09

A

1300 people with flooded homes Communities cut off by flooded bridges

55
Q

Responses to Cumbria nov/09

A

Immediate response-RAF helicopters and rescue boats saved 200 people Buildings were assessed to check whether it was save to let people back in them Network rail built a new station to connect each side of Workington The army built temporary footbridges In Cockermouth, businesses were offered temporary trading accommodation in the town centre

56
Q

Human factors of Philippines Sept/09

A
  • government were unable to predict its magnitude - torrential rain in manila on impermeable rock and a drainage system which is not advanced enough - deforestation on the neighbouring hills
57
Q

Physical factors of Philippines Sept/09

A

-intense typhoon Ketsana -height of rainy season so the soils were already saturated -340mm in 6 hours

58
Q

Economic impacts of Philippines Sept/09

A

Homes and businesses destroyed - $100 million damage Airport was closed for a day 3% of the countries farmland was destroyed

59
Q

Social impact of Philippines Sept/09

A

250 killed 60000 lost homes Power shut off in areas Mental distress

60
Q

Environmental impacts of Philippines Sept/09

A

Thick mud on roads 100,000 litres of oil leaked from factory Landslides affecting farms

61
Q

Response to Philippines Sept/09

A

Immediate – 1000 soldiers were deployed, red cross provided rubber boats – social networking sites showed where people were and what they needed Clean-up operation took many weeks – Philippines government welcomed support from the UN and other NGO’s

62
Q

Hard engineering options

A

Dams Reservoirs River straightening Levees and embankments Bypass channels

63
Q

Hard engineering options - Dams and reservoirs

A

regulate river flow YEP Recreation expensive

64
Q

Hard engineering options - river straightening

A

Increases velocity More problems downstream channelization

65
Q

channelization

A

lining the banks with concrete to improve rate of flow

66
Q

Soft engineering options

A

afforestation Establishing wetlands Riverbank conservation Land-use management

67
Q

Soft engineering options- riverbank conservation

A

Plantation of bushes and vegetation on banks to hold soil together for less erosion