Rivers Flashcards
Course
The route the river takes
Source
Where the river starts
Confluence
The part at which two rivers or streams meet
Tributary
A stream that joins a large river
Drainage basin
The land drained by the river
Watershed
The area of highland surrounding the drainage basin
Mouth
The part at which the river comes to an end. Usually at sea
Estuary
The part do the river that is tidal
How are interlocking spurs formed
Interlocking spurs are formed when the river erodes the landscape and bends to avoid hard rock
Where do rivers usually begin
Rivers usually begin In the mountains. They flow downhill onto flat land and into the sea
What are the tree stages of a river
The upper stage (youthful)
The Middle stage (mature)
The lower stage (old)
What are the landforms in the youthful stage of a river
Waterfalls
V shaped valleys
Interlocking spurs
Describe the upper stage of a river
The gradient is very steep so the small amount water flows fast through a narrow shallow channel. Lots of erosion occurs in the upper stage of a river.
What are the landforms in the mature stage of a river
Meanders
Ox bow lakes
Describe a middle stage of a river
It has more water than the lower stage running through a wider deeper channel. It’s gradient is also more gentile so the water doesn’t move as fast. It still erodes
What are the landforms in the old stage of a river
Flood plains
Levees
Describe the lower stage of a river
The river has a lot more water than the other stages that forums through a wider deeper channel than it did before.
Where is erosion greatest
The youthful stage as the gradients is steep. The water has more energy and therefore has more energy to erode the river.
How do rivers shape the landscape
The river shapes the landscape by Erosion because the river wears/breaks down the landscape. It shapes the landscape by transportation by carrying its load and it shapes the landscape by deposition by dropping off that load
What are the ways in which the river is eroding
Hydronic action: the force of the moving water wears always the bed and bank
AbraTion: the rivers load wears away the bed and bank by hitting off them
Attrition: stones are worm down, smoothed and rounded as they hit off each other
Solution: the water dissolves rocks the bed and banks
What are the ways the river transports (carries) it’s load
Rolling: large stones being moved from the bed and carried by the water
Saltation: when lose material (small pebbles) is moved from the bed and carried by the water
Suspension: light material is moved from the bed and carried by the water
Solution: the dissolved material left behind
What is the function of rivers
Rivers drain land of rainwater
How can humans use rivers
Transport Tourism Fishing Settlements Pollution Hydroelectric power Flooding
Interactions can be beneficial and harmful
How is tourism how people use rivers
Tourist use rivers for fishing and cruising
How is fishing way that people use rivers
Irish rivers are popular for Anglos
How is settlement an example of how people can use rivers
People live on the river for food and water
How is pollution an example of how people use rivers
Farming-slurry runs into rivers
What are the positive and negative affects of hydroelectric power
Positive
- generates cheap clean renewable energy
- water builds up in reservoir- water supply
- reservoir can be used for leisure activities - water sports and fishing
Negative
Creation of reservoir can lose agricultural land
Families need to be relocated
New roads and buildings have to be built
Fish stocks can be affected
How do rivers shape the lAndscape q
Erosion transportation and deposition
