Rivers and Waterfalls Flashcards
Water is constantly moving from the _______________ to the earth and back again. This is called the _____ _____.
Atmosphere
Water cycle
Most water reaches the earths surface as ____ where it either _____ as rivers, or soaks into the ____.
Rain
Flows
Soil
Water passes into the air by a process called ______________ which turns liquid water into vapour.
Evaporation
Condensation then occurs as the air cools and ______ are formed.
Clouds
Surface runoff:
Here water moves directly over the surface in eg. a river.
Infiltration:
This is the process where water is soaked into the soil.
Throughflow:
This is the process where water flows through the soil towards eg. a river.
Percolation:
This is a process where water moves into underlying rock.
Groundwater flow:
This is the process where water flows through rock towards eg. a river.
Interception:
This is when roots from plants and trees suck up water from the soil as part of their growth. They intercept water.
Source-
Start of a river
Mouth-
Where a river joins the sea
Meander-
Sweeping bend in a river
Tributary-
Small stream that joins a larger river
Confluence-
The point where two rivers join
Drainage basin-
Area drained by a river system
Water shed-
A raised area of land separating one drainage basin from another
What are the three parts of a river?
Upper course
Middle course
Lower course
Erosion:
This is the wearing away of the land
Hydraulic action:
This process involves the force of water against the bed and banks
Abrasion/Corrasion:
This is the process by which the bed and banks are down by their rivers load. The river throws three particles against the bed and banks, sometimes at high velocity.
Attrition:
Material carried by the river bump into each other and so are smoothed and broken down into smaller particles.
Corrosion:
This is the chemical action of water. The acids in the water slowly dissolve the bed and banks.