Rivers Flashcards
What is precipitation
Occurs as water droplets get bigger and heavier they begin to fall as rain, sleet and snow
What is percolation
The movement of water from the soil into the rocks beneath
What is the water cycle
The process by which water travels from the Earth’s surface to the atmosphere and then back to the ground again
What is the drainage basin
The area of land drained by the river and it’s tributaries
What is the watershed
The edge of highland surrounding a drainage basin. It marks the boundary between two drainage basins
What is a confluence
The point at which two tiers or streams join
What is a tributary
A stream or a smaller river which joins a larger stream and river
Define Hydraulic Action
The force of the river against the banks can cause air to be trapped in cracks and crevices. The pressure weakens the banks and gradually wears it away.
Define Abrasion
Rocks carried along by the river were down the river beds as they scare along
Define Attrition
Rocks being carried by the river smash together and break into smaller, smoother and rounder particles
Give the 4 transportation processes
Traction
Suspension
Solution
Saltation
What is Traction
Large boulders/rocks are rolled along the the river bed
What is Suspension
Fine, light materials are carried along in the water
What is Solution
Minerals are dissolved in the water and are carried along in solution
What is saltation
Small pebbles and stones bouncing along the river bed
When a river loses……, it will………….some of the material it’s carrying
This may take place in an area of…………water or when the volume of water…………
Energy
Deposit
Shallow
Decreases
What is a delta
Found at the mouth of large rivers, is formed when when the river deposits it’s load faster than the sea can remove it
Give the 3 main eyes of deltas
Arcuate
Cuspate
Bird’s Foot
Give some economical hazards of flooding
Collapsing bridges
Business won’t be able to operate without electricity loosing money
Loss of crops, means farmers loose money
Dams may burst
Give 6 benefits of a river
Leisure Energy Fishing Transport Drinking water Agriculture
Give two river management strategies
Hard Engineering - Using man-made structures to prevent or control natural processes taking place. Often very expensive.
Soft Engineering - Working with the river processes to stop flood risks. It aims to reduce and slow the movement of water into a river channel to help prevent flooding
