Rivers Flashcards
Watershed
The area of high land forming the edge of a river basin
Source
where a river begins
Mouth
where a river meets the sea
Confluence
the point at which two rivers meet
Tributary
a small river or stream that joins a larger river
Channel
this is where the river flows
Drainage basin
A large area where rain is drained by a river
Watershed
Separates the land and water
Catchment area
Catches all the rain and drains it into the river
Drainage density
how many rivers, confluences, and tributaries are in a drainage basin
Interception
Precipitation hitting vegetation
Corrosion
Acids in the water dissolving less resistant rock (solution)
Abrasion
When pebbles grind along the riverbank
Attrition
rocks knock against each other and break apart
Hydraulic action
Water is forced into the cracks in the banks. Over time it breaks up the bank.
