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Geography > Rivers in the UK > Flashcards

Rivers in the UK Flashcards

1
Q

What does relief mean?

A

A term to describe the physical features of a landscape;
The height above sea level
Shapes of the landscape
Steepness of slopes

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2
Q

What does landscape mean?

A

An area of the Earths surface that has similar characteristics that have been shaped by geology, biology and climate

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3
Q

Describe the distribution of the upland and lowland areas of the Uk

A

North and west of the Uk is generally more mountainous with upland areas such as Grampian Mountains. The east is generally flatter eg East Anglia

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4
Q

Describe the pattern of rivers in the UK

A

The uk had dense networks of over 1500 rivers eg. Severn is the longest river flowing from upland areas to the sea

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5
Q

What are the main reasons for the patterns of relief on the Uk map?

A

Where the biggest mountains are, the rock is older and harder so hasn’t eroded. Where the flatter land is, the rock is newer and softer so has eroded

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6
Q

What is a Long profile of a river?

A

The gradient of the river from source to mouth. It is not always a smooth curve and can have: steep slopes, shallow areas and breaks in the slopes

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7
Q

What is the cross profile of a river?

A

Shows the shape of the valley from one side to another

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8
Q

What is the shape of the long profile of a river?

A

Overall it is concave, steep in the upper course and flatter in the lower and middle courses as you get closer to the mouth

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9
Q

Why does the long profile change?

A

It starts in the upland areas like hills and mountains and ends in the lowland areas where it is flatter. This is because of the influence of gravity

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10
Q

What are the properties of the Upper Course cross profile?

A

Narrow V shaped valley
Steep valley sides

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11
Q

What are the properties of the Middle Course cross profile?

A

Wide U shaped valley
Gentle valley sides

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12
Q

What are the properties of the Lower Course cross profile?

A

Wide valleys + flat

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13
Q

What are the typical landforms of the Upper Course?

A

Interlocking spurs
Waterfalls
Rapids

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14
Q

What are the typical landforms of the Middle Course?

A

Meanders
Ox-bow lakes

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15
Q

What are the typical landforms of the Lower Course?

A

Meanders
Flood plains
Estuary

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16
Q

What is the bottom of a river called?

A

The bed

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17
Q

What slows the flow of the river in each course?

A

Upper: big boulders
Middle: small and rounded rocks
Lower: suspended sediment

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18
Q

Does the river get more or less efficient as you go downstream?

A

More efficient

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19
Q

What is hydraulic action?

A

Where the sheer force of the water hitting the banks forces water into the cracks causing air to compress into the cracks. Leads to vertical and lateral erosion

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20
Q

What is abrasion?

A

When small boulders and stones scratch against eachother during transportation to create smaller, smoother and rounder rocks. Leads to lateral erosion

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21
Q

What is solution?

A

When the rocks such as limestone and chalk dissolve in the water. Water running over these rocks will dissolve it

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22
Q

What is attrition?

A

When stones in the river load smash against eachother during transportation to create smaller and smoother rocks

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23
Q

What controls the amount of erosion a river can do?

A

The velocity of it
The load of the river
The acidity of the water

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24
Q

What are the 4 forms of erosion?

A

Hydraulic action
Abrasion
Attrition
Solution

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25
What are the 4 forms of transportation?
Traction Suspension Saltation Solution
26
What is traction?
When large boulders and rocks are rolled along the river bed
27
What is suspension?
When light material is carried along by the river
28
What is saltation?
When small pebbles and stones are bounced along the river bed
29
What is deposition?
The process of a river dropping its sediment/ load. The bigger the load particle, the more velocity is required to keep the load moving. Large boulders are deposited first and small particles are deposited last
30
Why might a river lose energy/ velocity?
When it hits the inside bend of a meander At the mouth because it slows when meeting the ocean When it floods When objects fall into it
31
What is mass movement?
The down-slope movement of material under gravity due to the river eroding the base of the valley. More likely to occur when weathering processes contribute Mass movement contributed to a rivers load which increases erosion and deposition
32
What is weathering?
The breakdown of a rock in its same position due to mechanical, chemical or biological processes. It occurs along the river valley and channel sides
33
What is mechanical weathering and give an example?
The breakdown of rock with no changes to its chemical composition e.g Freeze-thaw
34
What is chemical weathering and give an example?
The breakdown of a rock due to changes in its chemical composition e.g. rust
35
What is biological weathering and give an example?
The breakdown of a rock due to living things e.g Plant roots breaking the rock
36
What are interlocking spurs?
When a river winds its way around obstacles of hard rock rather than eroding it because there is not enough energy to do so. This forms a winding, alternating pattern
37
What are rapids?
When a river runs over alternating layers of hard and soft rock to form a downslope of uneven ground and turbulence The fast moving water increases erosion rates to form a steep gradient
38
How are waterfalls formed?
The weak rock is eroded quickly which allows the fast moving water to form a step and eventually an overhang when eroded. Underneath this, a plunge pool is formed and rubble which fell from the erosion sit at the bottom
39
How do meanders form?
They start for form when friction and the Coriolis effect with the channel banks and bed causes turbulence with the water flow. This results in the spiral flow of water called ‘helicoidal flow’
40
How does erosion cause meanders?
The river erodes laterally which forms large bends and horseshoe like loops and meanders
41
What processes cause meanders?
Erosion and deposition which causes the meanders to migrate downstream and sideways
42
How are oxbow lakes formed?
Overtime, meanders become more sinuous so the neck of the meander becomes narrower, causing the river to break through the neck of the meander leading to floods from high discharge and energy. The river now follows a straight path and the loop is cut off and eventually dries out forming a meander scar
43
what are the features of the lower course of a river?
floodplains, levees and estuaries
44
what are flood planes and how are they formed?
they are areas of land around a river that is covered in floods. they are formed as a meander migrate across the valley. They also build up a silt and aluminium layer.
45
what are the physical factors affecting flood risk?
precipitation, relief, geology and natural vegetation
46
What are the human factors affecting flood risk?
New infrastructure, new housing disappearing gardens, forestry, farming and disappearing fields
47
what is a hydrograph?
shows the rivers discharge in response to a precipitation event
48
what is the lag time?
The difference between peak rainfall and peak discharge
49
what are the hydrological factors of a flood?
size of drainage basin, shape of drainage basin, relief, length of precipitation event, intensity of precipitation, permeability of rock, vegetation, soil texture and structure, urbanisation, and deforestation
50
What are some hard engineering examples of flood management?
Embankments(levees), Flood relief channels, Channel straightening, Dams
51
What are the benefits of embankments?
Cheap Provide habitats Increases capacity of the channel
52
What are the disadvantages of embankments?
prone to erosion displaces animals high maintenance cost
53
What are embankments?
High banks built on riverbanks to stop water spreading into areas where it could cause problems such as housing
54
what are flood relief channels?
they are artificial channels that run alongside the river to act as an overflow for excess water
55
what are the benefits of flood relief channels?
removed flood risk from certain areas cheaper insurance cost nearby new habitats
56
what are the disadvantages of flood relief channels?
Displacement of people Expensive to build and maintain disturbs habitats
57
What is channel straightening?
meanderers are removed to create a wider, deeper, straighter river channel which is more efficient so can flow faster
58
What are the benefits of channel straightening?
reduces flood risk Homeowners gain confidence to invest reduces the river length
59
What are the disadvantages of channel straightening?
excess sediment causes flooding Expensive High maintenance Water changes endanger animals ugly
60
what are dams?
large concrete barriers built across the river valley to create an artificial lake which stores water
61
what are the benefits of dams?
Boost tourism More forestry Provides hydroelectric power Highly effective source of drinking water
62
What are the disadvantages of dams?
The flooding of a valley displaces people expensive interferes with migration paths of fish
63
What is Floodplain zoning
Planning the land use on a floodplain to minimise the impact of a flood
64
advantages of floodplain zoning
Less impermeable surfaces Cheap Flood plains provide green space
65
disadvantages of floodplain zoning
Low impact difficult to get planning permission Destroys habitats
66
What is Afforestation
Planting trees to help the amount of natural interception
67
Advantages of afforestation
Reduced water flowing downstream More CO(2) absorbed
68
Disadvantages of afforestation
Loss of grazing land Changes country land and habitats
69
What are flood warnings
Warnings are provided to the public before a flood
70
Advantages of flood warnings
People can protect belongings Ensures people’s safety
71
Disadvantages of flood warnings
only effective if people listen and take action Doesn’t help stop flooding
72
What is river restoration
Removing hard engineering to help the river to return to a natural state
73
Advantages of river restoration
More biodiversity Increased water storage areas
74
Disadvantages of river restoration
May flood near river Expensive
75
What is an example of flood management in the UK
Boscastle August 2004
76
Physical causes of the boscastle flood
Ground was saturated 8inch rain in 8 hours Drainage basin was steep and impermeable Boscastle is at the confluence of 3 rivers 2 billion litres of water in valley
77
human causes of boscastle flooding
Narrow bridges acted as dams Removal of trees in upper course Trees over growing the river channel and washed into village
78
What were the impacts of the boscastle flood
0 deaths 58 buildings flooded and 4 destroyed 115 cars washed away ~£50 million cost 1850 tonnes of debris left
79
What were the hard engineering flood managements of Boscastle
widened and deepened the channel removed low bridges and replacing with taller ones Raised the car park and used a permeable surface
80
Soft engineering flood management of Boscastle
Tree management - dead trees removed Encouraged land owners to manage their vegetation and plant new trees
81
How are levees formed?
When the river repeatedly floods and loses energy so deposits its sediment onto floodplains. This forms high banks which form as a flood protection

Geography (7 decks)

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