Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

GCSE Geography Paper 1 > Section C - River Landscapes In The UK > Flashcards

Section C - River Landscapes In The UK Flashcards

1
Q

what is the drainage basin

A

an area of land drained by a river and its tributaries

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what is the source

A

the start of a river

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what is the tributary

A

a small stream that joins a larger river

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what is the confluence

A

where a tributary joins a larger river

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

what is the mouth

A

the end of a river, usually where a river joins the sea

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

what is the watershed

A

the edge of a river basin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

how do the long profile of a river change from source to mouth?

A

> where the water is shallow and turbulent there is friction with the bed and banks, slowing the rate of flow
further downstream rhe river’s channel is much deeper. less water is in contact with the bed and banks and the velocity increases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

what does the long profile of a river show you

A

how the gradient changes over the different courses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

how does the cross profile of a river and its valley change downstream

A

> the river channel becomes wider and deeper with the river valley becoming wider and flatter. its sides are less steep
river management can alter the shape of a river channel and different ypes of rock or human activities
these changes downstream are due to the amout of water flowin in the river

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

the changes to a valleys cross profile are mainly due to?

A

> channel erosion broadening

>flattening

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

what does the cross profile show you

A

what a cross section of the river looke like

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

River erosion : what is solution

A

the dissolving of soluble chemicals in water

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

River erosion : what is hydraulic power

A

the power of the river water as they smash onto the river bed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

River erosion : what is abrasion

A

the effect of pebbles grinding against the river bed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

River erosion : what is attrition

A

pebbles carried by the river that knock against one another

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

River transportation : what is traction

A

large pebbles rolled along the riverbed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

River transportation : what is suspension

A

particles carried within the water

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

River transportation : what is solution

A

dissolved cgemicals often derived from pebbles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

River transportation : what is saltation

A

a bouncing motion of particles too heavy to be suspended

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is river deposition and what is an example

A

when the water carrying sediment loses energy. this will happenin different places along the river. an example of this is a meander where the inside of the bend reduces rivere energy, resulting in deposition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

DEPOSITION : where are estuaries found

A

at the mouth of a river, where it meets the sea. the land is close to sea level and the river valley is at its widest

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

EROSION : where are interlocking spurs found

A

found in a rivers upper course

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

EROSION : how do interlocking spurs form

A

form because of vertical erosion wearing away the land to create a V shaped valley

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

EROSION : how are waterfalls formed

A

formed when a river flows over a relatively resistant band or hard rock

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

EROSION : what is a gorge

A

a narrow, steep sided valley that is usually found immediately downstream of a waterfall

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

EROSION : how are gorges formed

A

formed by the gradual retreat by a waterfall

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

DEPOSITION AND EROSION : what are meanders

A

wide bends of a river found mainly in lowland areas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

DEPOSITION : what are pools/riffles

A

meandering streams carrying coarse sediment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

DEPOSITION : where are pools found

A

pools are found on the outside bends of meanders where the faster flow erodes a deeper channel

30
Q

Deposition : how are riffles found

A

riffles are formed from the deposition of course sediment, also of high flow

31
Q

DEPOSITION AND EROSION : how is an ox bow lake formed

A

1) the neck of the meander is gradually eroded
2) water niw takes the shortest and steepest route
3) meander is cut off, forming an ox bow lake

32
Q

DEPOSITION : what is a floodpain

A

a floodplain is a wide, flat area of marshy lan on either side of a river, and found in the lower courses

33
Q

DEPOSITION : what is a levee

A

a raised river bed, found in its lower course. it is formed by flooding ober many years

34
Q

DEPOSITION : why is a ridge of sediment deposited

A

to build up the levee

35
Q

hard engineering - how do dams form a reservoir

A

the dam traps water, which builds up behind it, forming a reservoir

36
Q

what is an advantage of dams and reservoirs

A

can be used to produce electricity by passing the water through a turbine within the dam

37
Q

what is a disadvantage of dams and reservoirs

A

dams trap sediment which means the reservoir can hold less water

38
Q

what does hard engineering involve

A

involves building artificial structures which try to control rivers

39
Q

hard engineering - why straighten a river

A

so the water speeds up - therefore volumes of water can pass through an area quickly

40
Q

hard engineering - why dredge a river

A

so that it is deeper and can therefore hold more water

41
Q

what is an advantage of river straightening and dredging

A

more water can be held in the channel

42
Q

what is a disadvantage of river dredging

A

dredging needs to be done frequently

43
Q

hard engineering - what is embanking a river

A

raising the banks so it can hold more water

44
Q

what is an advantage of emankments

A

cheap with a one off cost

45
Q

what is a disadvantage of embankments

A

looks unnatural

46
Q

hard engineering - what happens with flood relief channels

A

the flood water flows into the relief channel and is taken either to an area where it can be absorbed, or re enters the river further down its course

47
Q

what is an advantage of flood relief channels

A

removes excess water from the river channel to reduce flooding

48
Q

wht is a disadvantage of flood relief channels

A

expensive to build

49
Q

soft engineering - what are some advantages of wetland and flood storage areas

A

> very efficient in storing water

>water can be stored to reduce the risk of flooding further downstream

50
Q

soft engineering - what is floodplain zoning

A

allowing only certain land uses on the floodplain to reduce the risk of flooding to houses and important buildings

51
Q

what is an advantage of floodplain zoning

A

more expensive buildings and land uses are further away from the river, so have reduced flood risk

52
Q

what is a disadvantage of floodplain zoning

A

not always possible to change existing land uses

53
Q

soft engineering - what does river restoration involve

A

using the natural processes and features of a river, such as meanders and wetlands, to slow river flow and reduce the likelihood of a major flood downstream

54
Q

what is an advante of flood warnings and preperations

A

people have time to protect their properties e.g. with sandbags

55
Q

what is a disadvantage of flood warnings and preperations

A

flash floods may happen too quicklyy for a warning to be effective

56
Q

when do river floods usually occur

A

after prolonged periods of rainfall, usually in winter

57
Q

when do sudden floods or flash floods usually occu

58
Q

PHYSICAL - how does geology increase flood risk

A

impermeable rocks do not allow water to pass through them and so it flows overland into river channels

59
Q

PHYSICAL - how does precipitaion increase flood risk

A

torrential rainstorms and/ or prolonged rainfall can lead to rapid flooding events

60
Q

PHYSICAL - how does relief increase flood risk

A

steep slopes means water flows much quicker into river channels over a short space of time

61
Q

HUMAN - how does agriculture increase flood risk

A

exposed soil can lead to increased runoff (especially if the field has been ploughed)

62
Q

HUMAN - how does urbanisation increase flood risk

A

impermeable surfaces like tarmac and concrete means water flows into drains too quickly

63
Q

HUMAN - how does deforestation increase flood risk

A

when the trees are removed, the water that would have been evaporated or stored flows into the river channel

64
Q

STORM HYDROGRAPH : what is the peak

A

the top/highest

65
Q

STORM HYDROGRAPH : what is the line

A

the discharge

66
Q

STORM HYDROGRAPH : what is the rainfall

67
Q

STORM HYDROGRAPH : what is the capacity

A

the rivers maximum amount of water it can hold

68
Q

STORM HYDROGRAPH : what is the rising limb

A

the faster it rises the greather the chance of floods

69
Q

how does the basin size influence hydrographs

A

the larger the basin, the longer the lag time and less chance of floods

70
Q

how does the relief influence hydrographs

A

the steeper the gradient, the quicker water enters the river - greater flood chance

71
Q

how does soil moisture influence hydrographs

A

saturated soil means increased surface run off, shorter lag time and increases flood chance

72
Q

how does land use influence hydrographs

A

tarmac and concrete is impermeable so it increases surface run off into drains. increased flood risk

GCSE Geography Paper 1 (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions