Rivers - Course and Water Cycle Flashcards
With regards to the water cycle, what is ‘precipitation’?
Moisture falling from clouds as rain, snow or hail.
With regards to the water cycle, what is ‘interception’?
Vegetation prevents water reaching the ground.
With regards to the water cycle, what is ‘surface runoff’?
Water flowing over the surface of the land into rivers
With regards to the water cycle, what is ‘infiltration’?
Water absorbed into the soil from the ground.
With regards to the water cycle, what is ‘transpiration’?
Water lost through leaves of plants.
What is the upper course of a river?
Near the source, the river flows over 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.
What is the middle course of a river?
The gradient gets gentler. The river starts to speed up. The river erodes laterally making the river wider.
What is the lower course of a river?
Near the river’s mouth, the river widens further and becomes flatter. Material transported is deposited at the sides of the river, or when it meets the sea.
Name the key terms of a drainage basin
- Watershed
- Source
- Tributary
- Confluence
- Mouth
What is the drainage basin?
An area of land drained by a river and its tributaries.
What is the watershed?
The area of high land forming the edge (boundary) of the drainage basin
What is the source of the river?
Where the river begins.
What is a tributary?
A small river or stream that joins a larger river.
What is the confluence with regards to rivers?
The point at which two rivers meet.
What is the mouth of the river?
Where a river meets the sea.
