Topic area 2: River definitions: processes Flashcards
What is the upper course
The start of a river close to the source
What shape and texture are the rocks in the upper course
large and sharp
What is the middle course
This mixes features of the upper and lower course
What is the lower course
This is close to the mouth of the river, this is where the river is flattest and moves quickly carrying small pieces
What is the source
This is where the river begins
What is the mouth
Where the river meets the sea
What is a tributary
a small stream joining a big river
What are meanders
Bends in a river
What is a bedload
The material carried by the river
What is an oxbow lake
A small C shaped lake
What is a V shape valley
steep sides on the valley
What is a leeves
Small wall like feature that run along the river banks
What is a floodplain
A flat valley in the lower course of the river
Name the 3 River/sea processes
- Erosion
- Transportation
- Deposition
What is erosion
The water picking up and breaking down material from the river bed
What is transportation
The water carrying material it has picked up
what is deposition
The water dropping material it cannot carry
Name the 4 erosion processes
- Hydraulic action
- abrasion
- attrition
- solution
What is hydraulic action
The force of the water smashes piece off the the river/cliff
What is abrasion
Rock is carried by the water and thrown at the river/ cliff sides
what is abrasion
Rock is carried by the water and thrown at the river/cliff sides
What is attrition
Rocks are carried by the water and smash into each other making them smaller
What is solution
Tiny pieces of sand/rock dissolved by the water and carried away
Name the 4 transportation processes
- Traction
- Saltation
- Suspension
- Solution
What is traction
Large pieces of rock are rolled along the river bed
What is saltation
Smaller pieces of rock bounce along the floor
What is suspension
Small pieces are held by the water “floating” beneath the surface
