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Restless Earth and Water on Land > Water on Land > Flashcards

Water on Land Flashcards

1
Q

Name the four types of erosion

A

Hydraulic action, abrasion, attrition, corrosion/solution

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2
Q

What are the two directions of erosion?

A

Vertical and lateral

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3
Q

What are the four processes of transportation?

A

Solution, suspension, saltation, traction

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4
Q

What is hydraulic action?

A

It is a type of erosion. The force of the river against the banks and bed. The pressure weakens and wears away rock

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5
Q

What is attrition?

A

It is a type of erosion. Rocks being carried by the river smash together and break into small, smoother and rounder particles

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6
Q

What is abrasion?

A

It is a type of erosion. Rocks carried along by the river wear down the river bed and banks.

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7
Q

What is corrosion/solution?

A

It is a type of erosion. Soluble particles are dissolved into the river

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8
Q

What is vertical erosion?

A

The downward action of erosion that depends the river channel.

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9
Q

Where is vertical erosion most dominant?

A

In the upper course due tot he increased gravitional pull

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10
Q

What is lateral erosion?

A

The sideways actions of erosion that wider the rover channel

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11
Q

Where is lateral erosion most dominant?

A

In the lower course

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12
Q

What is solution?

A

Minerals are dissolved in the water and carried along in solution

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13
Q

What is suspension?

A

Fine light material is carried along in the water

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14
Q

What is saltation?

A

Small pebbles and stones are bounced along the river bed.

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15
Q

What is traction?

A

Large boulders and rocks are rolled along the river bed

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16
Q

What are the features of the upper course of a river?

A

Large angular bedload
Narrow and shallow (1.5 m from side to side in places)
Steep valley sides (V-shaped valleys)
Waterfalls and rapids

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17
Q

What are the features of the middle course of a river?

A

Wider river channels than the upper course (5-15m from side to side in places)
Smaller angular bedloads
Meanders and ox bow lakes
Deeper river channels

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18
Q

What are the features of the lower course of a river?

A

Wide and deep channels (20m+)
Deltas and estuaries
Floodplain and levees

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19
Q

What are the processes of the upper course of a river?

A

Vertical erosion

Transportation- traction and saltation

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20
Q

What are the processes of the middle course of a river?

A

Vertical and lateral erosion
Deposition
Transporation- more suspension and solution

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21
Q

What are the processes of the lower course of a river?

A

Some lateral erosion
Mostly deposition
Transportation- suspension and solution

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22
Q

How do waterfalls form?

A

Resistant rocks lies over softer, less resistant rock, the softer rocks erodes away causing a undercut.
Hard rock overhangs until it cannot support its weight
Overhang collapses, adding blocks of rock to the base of waterfall
Power of water falling to the base moves the material around, eroding the base into deep plunge pool (abrasion)

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23
Q

How are gorges formed?

A

After a while, the undercutting and collapse circle of a waterfall is repeated many times, causing waterfall to retreat upstream creating a steep-sided gorge

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24
Q

How are meanders formed?

A

As the river erodes laterally, to the right side then the left side, it forms large bends, and then horseshoe-like loops called meanders. The formation of meanders is due to both deposition and erosion and meanders gradually migrate downstream.

25
How are ox-bow lakes formed?
The neck of he meander narrows due to strong river flow . Over a period of time, the strength of the water flow narrows the meander so much that it cuts of from the river to form a lake. The river then loses its meander shape and becomes straight
26
Where are levees found?
At the lower course
27
How are levees formed?
When a river floods, it spills onto its floodplain. The finest sediment is deposited further across the floodplain. Te coarset sediment is deposited first and builds up into banks- known as levees
28
What does precipitation mean?
Rainfall
29
What does percolation mean?
Water that is absorbed by the ground
30
What is a hydro graph?
They show how a river responds to a period of rainfall. It shows precipitation as bars and river discharge as a line.
31
What are the physical factors that affect river discharge?
Rainfall, Temperature, Relief, Rock type
32
How does the amount of rainfall affect the river discharge?
The more rain the higher the river levels. Saturate to soils and increase surface run-off- reduces lag time
33
How would the temperature affect the river discharge?
Affects the loss of water from the drainage basin and therefore the level of discharge. Higher temperature- more evaporation and transpiration
34
How does the relief of the land affect the river discharge?
Steep slops encourage fast surface run-off and a sort lag time. Gentler slops allow infiltration to occur to reduce surface run-off
35
How would the type of rock affect the river discharge?
Impermeable and non-porous rocks do not allow water to infiltrate- increases surface run-off. Whereas permeable and porous allow water to infiltrate into the ground
36
What are the human factors that affect the river discharge?
Urbanisation and deforestation
37
How would urbanisation affect the river discharge?
Cities and expanding towns increase the amount of impermeable rock (concrete and tarmac)- increases surface run-off and reduces lag time. Drains and sewers also increase river discharge
38
How would deforestation affect the river discharge?
Trees intercept rainfall with their leaf canopies- if trees are removed there is less water intercepted. Surface run-ff and through- flow increase, increasing the river discharge
39
When was the flash flood in Boscastle?
16th August, 2004
40
What was the cause of the Boscastle flash flood?
Heavy rainfall over the weeks before saturated the ground- 15mm of rainfall fell in 15 minutes. Impermeable underlying rock reduced infiltration. Steep v-shaped valleys increased the surface run-off. Confluence of the three rivers in Boscastle increased river discharge (Jordan, Valency an Paradise)
41
What were the effects of the flash flood in Boscastle?
Socio-economic- Homes were devalued and insurance went up. 3 meter wall of water destroys infrastructure, homes and businesses. Cars were swept through into the sea Environmental- Silt and debris was left after flood water subsided Economic- Tourism reduced, Serious cost for a small community with seasonal employment problem. £15 million in damages and claims Social- there were no deaths
42
What were the short term responses to the flash flood in Boscastle?
Environmental Agency issue flood warnings Rapid evacuation Fire brigades and police on scene within an hour Lifeboats and motorised dinghies ho house to house rescuing people and check cars out at sea
43
What were the long term responses to the flash flood in Boscastle?
North Cornwall District Council banned Boscastle residents from returning home until 6 months after Telephone, water, electricity and gas supplies were all re installed within 6 months Insurance and compensation for businesses and homeowners
44
When was the Pakistan floods?
August 2010
45
What were the causes of the Pakistan floods?
Heavy monsoon season for months leaves saturated grounds High surface run-off from the Himalaya mountain, due to steep relief and impermeable rock River Indus finally broke its bank on 9th August flooding areas of Northern Pakistan
46
What were the effects of the Pakistan floods?
Social- 1,600 died. Swat Valley in north was cut off. Contaminated water led to outbreak of chlorea and typhoid. 6 million people reported to need food aid Socio-environmental- Farmland and crops ruined by silt deposits Socio-economic- Buildings collapsed and infrastructure destroyed
47
What were the immediate responses to the Pakistan flood?
Economic-$460 million needed to deal with immediate needs Social- Responses were slow and uncoordinates. Death toll rose, people living out in the open contracted disease. Heavy reliance on international aid
48
What were the long term responses to the Pakistan floods?
Social- UN ambassador Angelina Jolie helped to raise publicity. Swat Valley inaccessible by helicopters, aid agnecies had to use donkeys. Taliban took advantage in the north and win over communities Socio-economic- Buildings are still being built 5 years later and not recovered fully
49
What is hard engineering?
Use of man-made/ structural engineering to prevent flooding
50
What is soft engineering?
Use of natural engineering to reduce the impact of flooding
51
What is an example of soft engineering and what is the case study?
Warning and preparation- Boscastle Yellow, amber and red warnings People can be informed to put out sandbags, put more furniture upstairs or evacuate properties Emergency services informed by the EA
52
What is afforestation and what is the case study?
``` Yellow River,China- Planting to increase interception Increases the lag time 20% increase in trees in 2 years Lessen flood impacts Provides habitat Provides employment Cost... Does not prevent flooding Insurance is still high for people living nearby ```
53
What is flood plain zoning and what is the cast study?
``` Rhine River, Germany- Floodplain divided into risk areas Water meadows next to river absorb water Trees and parks act as buffer zones Hospitals and schools further from river Benefit... -Works with the environment Costs... -Land is lost ```
54
What is an example of hard engineering?
Three Gorges Dam, China- Benefits... -HEP produced for a growing Chinese population -Less flooding of the Yangtze 1/100 to 1/1000 likeliness of flooding Costs... 1.4 million had to be relocated No compensation Dam prevents deposition of alluvium on farmland- less fertile soil Most polluted reservoir on Earth- 265 billion gallons of raw sewage pumped in every year
55
What does straightening a river mean and what is the case study?
``` Mississippi River, USA- Benefits... -A linear flows move quickly- a sinuous river flows more slowly -Water moves away from the city quickly Costs... -Leads to further flooding downstream ```
56
What is a surplus area?
An area that has more water than it needs
57
What is an area of deficit?
An area that does not have enough water
58
What is an example of managing water supply in the UK?
Kielder Water, Northumberland -Biggest man-made reservoir in Europe -Cost £167 million -Water transfer scheme (water is transferred from an area of surplus to an area of deficit Costs... -Habitats, farmland lost, people relocated, construction cost Benefits... -North east has a reliable water supply in UK -Provides HEP -Free recreational and leisure activities -Provides water habitats an is a conservation area

Restless Earth and Water on Land (3 decks)

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