Water on the Land Flashcards
What is the definition of erosion?
The wearing away of rock and soil along the river banks and beds or breaking down of rock particles carried by the river
What is transportation?
the movement of eroded material downstream. (From point of erosion to point of deposition)
What is deposition?
When a river loses energy, it will drop/deposit some of its load (often near the mouth of the river)
What is hydraulic action?
The sheer force of the river hitting the bed and banks (causing erosion)
What is abrasion?
The load continually hits the river bed/banks, causing material to break off
What is corrosion?
Erosion which occurs when the river flows over certain types of rock (e.g. chalk or limestone)
What is attrition?
Stones/boulders, carried by the river, hit against each other and erode eachother
What is traction?
The heaviest stones in the load are rolled along the river bed by the river
What is saltation?
Stones/pebbles are bounced along the river bed, they cannot be carried for long
What is suspension?
Particles of rock are suspended in the river and transported in this way
What is solution?
Dissolved load carried by the river (not visible) only certain types of rock (e.g. chalk or limestone)
What is the discharge?
The amount of water in the river channel
What attributes of the river increase downstream?
Discharge, channel width, channel depth, speed, load quantity
What attributes of the river decrease downstream?
Load particle size, channel bed roughness, gradient of land
Why does channel width increase downstream?
There is less vertical erosion and more lateral erosion
Why does the channel depth increase downstream?
Although vertical erosion is less dominant it still continues to occur downstream
How does the shape of the valley change downstream?
The valley goes from a ‘v-shape’ to a ‘u-shape’
Where are waterfalls usually found?
In the upper course of the river
What is water stress?
Water stress is the difference between the rainfall and the demand for water (when there is an inadequate supply)
What is an are of deficit water supply?
An area with higher demand than supply of water
What is an area of surplus water supply?
An area with higher supply than demand of water
How has the water usage per household changed?
It has risen by 70% over the last 30 years
What is the source?
The beginning of the river
What is a confluence?
Where two rivers meet
What is a watershed?
An area of high land between two drainage basins
What is a tributary?
A small river or stream that flows into a larger river
What is a drainage basin?
The area drained by a river and its tributaries
What is precipitation?
Any form of water entering the basin from the atmosphere (rain/hail/snow etc)