The UK’s Landscapes — Rivers

Question 1

What landforms are found in the upper course of a river?

Answer 1

The Source, Waterfalls, V-Shaped Valleys, Interlocking Spurs, Gorges

Question 2

What landforms are found in the middle course of a river?

Answer 2

Meanders, Ox-Bow Lakes, Shallower Valleys

Question 3

What landforms are found in the lower course of a river?

Answer 3

The Mouth, Wide Flat-Bottomed Valleys, Floodplains, Deltas

Question 4

In the upper course, the river is…

Answer 4

The steepest, shallowest, thinnest, slowest part of the river

Question 5

In the lower course, the river is…

Answer 5

The flattest, fastest, deepest, widest part of the river

Question 6

Name the three river processes…

Answer 6

Erosion
Transportation
Deposition

Question 7

What are the 4 types of erosion?

Clue: CASH

Answer 7

Corrasion / Abrasion — sandpaper-like; being rubbed away
Attrition — rocks being thrown at other rocks and breaking them apart
Solution — the salt-water particles slowly erode away at the rocks
Hydraulic action — water pressurising cracks in the rock

Question 8

Name the 4 types of river transportation…

Answer 8

Traction — larger stones are carried along by traction
Saltation — smaller stones or pebbles are picked up and then dropped again; this results in a “skipping” motion
Suspension — tiny particles of sediment are carried in suspension in the river’s current
Solution — dissolved chemicals are carried along in solution invisible to the eye

Question 9

Define…

1. Tributary?
2. Catchment Area?
3. Drainage basin?
4. Hydrograph?
5. Watershed?

Answer 9

1. A small stream that leads to the main channel
2. The area from which a river draws its water
3. The area drained by a river and it’s tributaries / catchment areas of a river
4. These plot a river over time
5. The boundary between two drainage basins

Question 10

Define…

6. Annual hydrograph?
7. Geology?
8. Source?
9. Mouth?
10. Flood / storm hydrograph?
11. Confluence?
12. Discharge?

Answer 10

6. These plot a river flow over a year
7. Rock type / structure; it can influence the hydrograph pattern by determining permeability of the ground
8. Where a river starts
9. Where a river meats the sea
10. These plot river flow over a short time period following a rainfall event
11. The amount of water in a river at a given time and point (area x velocity)

Question 11

Mass Movement —
happens on Valley Sides

1. A soil creep is…
2. A landslide is…
3. Slumping is…

Answer 11

1. An example of slow mass movement; moves about 2cm a year
2. An example of rapid mass movement; quick and unexpected
3. Another example of slow mass movement; it happens over time

Question 12

Three types of weathering?

Answer 12

Mechanical / physical — occurs when a physical force breaks rocks into pieces, e.g freeze-thaw

Chemical (acid rain) — a chemical change or decay of solid rock; water or rainwater mixes with atmospheric gases to form acids that dissolve rocks (e.g limestone)

Biological — although rocks look solid, small cracks allow plant roots to penetrate in search of water, etc; they force the crack apart and end up breaking the rock