Rivers Flashcards

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1
Q

Factors that effect the amount of discharge

A
Rainfall - type and amount
Temperature - hot or cold
Previous weather - wet or dry 
Relief - steep or gentle
Rock type - permeable or impermeable 
Land use - rural or urban
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2
Q

Velocity

A

Speed of the river measured in meters per second (m/s). Increases from the source to the mouth because the discharge increases meaning there’s less friction from the bed and banks. Water is able to flow faster even though the gradient becomes gentler.

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3
Q

River erosion - hydraulic action

A

the sheer force of the flowing water on the bed and banks

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4
Q

River erosion - abrasion

A

Stones carried by the river wear away the channel (sandpaper effect)

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5
Q

River erosion - attrition

A

Stones collide, wearing them away, becoming smaller and rounder

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6
Q

River erosion - corrosion

A

Slightly acidic river water dissolves rocks made of calcium carbonate

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7
Q

Transportation - traction

A

Stones rolled long the river bed by the force of flowing water

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8
Q

Transportation - saltation

A

Stones bounce along the river bed

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9
Q

Transportation - suspension

A

Partials of slit and coat float in the water, making the river look cloudy

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10
Q

Transportation - solution

A

Minerals dissolve in the water

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11
Q

Upper course

A

Steep v-shaped valley and bedload is angular boulders and cobbles

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12
Q

Middle course

A

Erodes laterally and has gently sloping valleys. Bedload is round cobbles and pebbles

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13
Q

Lower course

A

Deposits to form a wide valley with a flat valley floor. Bedload is sand, slit and clay

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14
Q

Watershed

A

An area of higher land separating two drainage basins

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15
Q

Source

A

Where the river begins

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16
Q

Tributary

A

Smaller river joining a larger river

17
Q

Confluence

A

The place where two rivers join

18
Q

Mouth

A

The place where the river enters a lake or the sea

19
Q

Flood plains

A

An area of flat land formed on wither side of a river.

Formed in the lower course of the river due to combination of erosion and depositation

20
Q

Levees

A

Raised banks of deposited sediment formed either sided of a river channel.
Formed during many years of river flooding, when the largest material is deposited next to the river

21
Q

Discharge

A

The amount of water in a river measured in cubic meters per second (m3/sec). It increases from the source to mouth. As this increases so does the width and depth.

22
Q

Flood management - hard engineering

A

The use of structures and machinery to control natural processes (e.g dams and creating a reservoir)

23
Q

Flood management - soft engineering

A

Working with the environment to modify and/or prepare for natural processes (e.g. floodplain zoning and flood warnings)