RIVERS Flashcards
What is a catchment area / drainage basin?
A land area drained by a river, providing the water source for the main river and tributaries.
What mass movements occur on river valley slopes?
Soil creep
Slides
Falls
What flows of water occur on river valley slopes?
Surface wash
Sheetwash
Throughflow
Which erosional processes take place on river valleys?
Rain-splash erosion
Flows of water can also be erosional
Which weathering processes take place on river valleys?
Carbonation
Oxidation
Freeze thaw
What factors affect slope processes?
Sea level change Weathering rate Rock type Climate Rock structure Aspect
What fluvial erosion takes place?
Abrasion Attrition Hydraulic action Solution / corrosion Cavitation
What factors affect the rate of fluvial erosion?
Rock structure and type River velocity Rainfall regime Sea level change Bed roughness Channel shape pH
What fluvial deposition takes place?
Traction
Suspension
Solution
Saltation
What factors affect the amount of deposition?
Velocity
Availability of sediment
Human intervention
What are the landforms of fluvial erosion?
V-shaped valley
Waterfalls and rapids
Meanders (outside bend)
What are the landforms of fluvial deposition?
Meanders (inside bend) Oxbow lake Flood plains Distributaries Levees
What are the main factors which affect the development of landforms?
Energy of the river Availability of load Channel roughness and shape Velocity Rock type and structure Beach size Sea level change Human intervention
What are the 2 types of sea level change?
Eustatic
Isostatic
What landforms are created by sea level change?
Sea Level Rise:
Rias
Sea Level Fall:
River terraces
Floodplains
Incised meanders
