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Geography > Rivers > Flashcards

Rivers Flashcards

1
Q

What is surface water

A

Water that falls and flows over the ground as streams or rivers

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2
Q

What is groundwater

A

Rain water that soaks into the soil and passes through the rocks

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3
Q

What is Transpiration

A

Plants and trees soak up water and then give off water vapour

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4
Q

What is evaporation

A

Water vapour rises from the earth’s surface into the atmosphere

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5
Q

What is condensation

A

The water in the air cools and falls as eg. Rain

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6
Q

What is percolation

A

Where water moves into underlying rock

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7
Q

What is interception

A

Where roots from plants and trees intercept the water and soak it up

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8
Q

What is a source (river terms)

A

The start of a river

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9
Q

What is the mouth of a river?

A

Where the river joins the sea

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10
Q

What is a tributary

A

A small stream that joins a larger river

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11
Q

What is a meander

A

A sweeping Bend in a river

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12
Q

What is a confluence

A

The point where 2 rivers meet

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13
Q

What is a watershed

A

A raised area of land separating 2 drainage basins

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14
Q

What is precipitation

A

Rain, snow, sleet and hail

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15
Q

What are the 4 main processes that operate in the upper course of a river?

A

Hydraulic action, abrasion, attrition and corrosion

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16
Q

What is hydraulic action?

A

The process of the force of water against the river bed and banks

17
Q

What is abrasion?

A

The process by which the bed and banks are worn down by the river’s load

18
Q

What is attrition?

A

Material carried by the river bump into eachother and so are broken down into smaller particles

19
Q

What is corrosion?

A

The acids in a river slowly dissolve the bed and banks

20
Q

What is traction?

A

Boulders and pebbles are rolled along the river bed

21
Q

What is saltation

A

Sand sized particles are bounced along the river bed

22
Q

What is suspension

A

Small particles are carried within the river

23
Q

What is solution

A

Some minerals are dissolved in the river

24
Q

What is a floodplain?

A

A feature found in the lower course of a river as a result of deposition

25
Q

Why are flood plains good for farming?

A

They a very fertile

26
Q

What is a flood?

A

When there is too much water for a river channel to hold

27
Q

How can floods be prevented?

A

Planting trees, enlargement of river channels, flood embankments and flood relief (by-pass) channels built around towns

28
Q

What is the material called that is deposited on surrounding land by a flood?

A

Alluvium

29
Q

What is a flash flood?

A

A flood that happens very quickly without warning

30
Q

What are 2 natural causes of flooding ?

A

Heavy rainfall and snow melt

31
Q

What are 2 human causes of flooding?

A

Removal of trees and concrete surfaces

32
Q

What is infiltration?

A

Water soaks into the soil

33
Q

What happens in the middle course of a river?

A

Lateral erosion, deposition

34
Q

What is the first part of a waterfall?

A

A river meets a layer of less resistant rock

35
Q

What is the second part of a waterfall?

A

The under-lying Rock is eroded more quickly by eg. Abrasion

36
Q

What is the third part of a waterfall?

A

When the underlying rock is eroded, this causes undercutting

37
Q

What is the fourth part of a waterfall?

A

The more resistant rock is left unsupported

38
Q

What is the fifth part of a waterfall?

A

The more resistant rock collapses to form a plunge pool

39
Q

What is the sixth part of a waterfall?

A

The process is repeated and retreats to form a gorge

Geography (3 decks)

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