Rivers and river valleys

Question 1

precipitation

Answer 1

Moisture falling from clouds as rain, snow, or hail.

Question 2

Interception

Answer 2

Vegetation prevents water from reaching the ground

Question 3

Surface Runoff

Answer 3

Water flowing over the surface of the land into rivers

Question 4

Infiltration

Answer 4

Water absorbed into the soil from the ground.

Question 5

Transpiration

Answer 5

Water lost through the leaves of plants.

Question 6

Upper Course of a River

Answer 6

Near the source, the river flows over a steep gradient from the hill/mountains. This gives the river a lot of energy, so it will erode the riverbed vertically to form narrow valleys

Question 7

Lower Course of a River

Answer 7

Near the river’s mouth, the river widens further and

becomes flatter. Material transported is deposited

Question 8

River Discharge

Answer 8

River discharge is the volume of water that flows in a river.

Hydrographs that discharge at a certain point in a river changes over time in relation to rainfall

Question 9

Peak discharge

Answer 9

the discharge in a period of time

Question 10

. Lag time

Answer 10

the delay between peak rainfall and peak discharge

Question 11

Rising limb

Answer 11

the increase in river discharge.

Question 12

Falling limb

Answer 12

the decrease in river discharge to normal level

Question 13

Geomorphic Processes Upper

Answer 13

– Features include V-Shaped valleys, rapids, and waterfalls.
High force Waterfall located close to Forest-in Teesdale drops 21m

and is made from harder Whinstone and softer limestone rocks.

Gradually a gorge has been formed.

Question 14

geomorphic processes middle

Answer 14

– Features include meanders and ox-bow lakes. The

meander near Yarm encloses the town.

Question 15

geomorphic processes lower

Answer 15

– Greater lateral erosion creates features such as floodplains & levees near Darlington. Mudflats at the river’s estuary.

Question 16

Middle Course of a River

Answer 16

Here the gradient gets gentler, so the water has less energy and moves more slowly.

The river will begin to erode laterally making the river wider.

Question 17

What are the characteristics of the upper course of a river?

Answer 17

Steep gradient
Narrow v-shaped valley
Narrow/shallow river
Large angular sedimant load
Mostly erosion taking place

Question 18

What are the characteristics of the middle course of a river?

Answer 18

Shallower gradient
Asymmetrical valley cross section
Deeper river
Smaller/rounded load
Balance between erosion and transportation taking place

Question 19

What are the characteristics of the lower course of a river?

Answer 19

Very low gradient
U-shaped valley
Wide/deep river
Small suspended load
Mostly deposition taking place

Question 20

• when does deposition happen

Answer 20

when a rivers velocity decreases, and it no longer has the energy to transport its load, it deposits it.

Question 21

• describe deposition

Answer 21

larger rocks transported mainly by traction are only carried short distances during periods of high flow. they are deposited in a rivers upper coarse.

smaller sediment is carried further downstream- mostly in suspension. it is deposited on a rivers bed and banks where velocity slows down due to friction

lots of deposition occurs at a rivers mouth where its velocity reduces because of the gentle gradient and also by interaction with tides