Rivers

Question 1

What erosional process is predominantly responsible for the formation of plunge pools?

Answer 1

Abrasion

Question 2

Give four things that have impermeable surfaces.

Answer 2

Roads
Buildings
Clay soil
Granite rock

Question 3

What would lead to a larger sediment load?

Answer 3

• Steeper slopes
• Softer rock
• Wetter climate

Question 4

Give 3 threats of flooding on the environment.

Answer 4

• Habitats can be polluted by floodwater.
• Vegetation can be uprooted and killed by forceful floodwater.
• Deposited silt can damage agricultural land.

Question 5

Give 3 threats of flooding on the environment.

Answer 5

• Floods can wash people away and kill them.
• Businesses and homes can be damaged, leaving people homeless or jobless.
• Floodwater can easily get contaminated with sewage, leaving water unsafe to drink.

Question 6

Mass movements are more common in what type of weather?

Answer 6

Cold and wet weather

Question 7

What is discharge?

Answer 7

The volume of water flowing through a river channel at any given point in time.

Question 8

What is discharge measured in?

Answer 8

Cumecs (cubic metres per second)

Question 9

Floodplain

Answer 9

The flat and wide valley in the lower course.

Question 10

Name 2 settlements along the River Severn’s course.

Answer 10

Shrewsbury and Tewkesbury.

Question 11

Give an example of a year when the River Severn flooded.

Answer 11

2007.

Question 12

Explain how rainfall helped cause the River’s Severn’s flooding in 2007.

Give at least 1 statistic.

Answer 12

May-July was the wettest since 1766 - June & July saw double the average rainfall.
140mm fell in a few hours on 20th July.
This caused the soils to saturate and caused lots of surface run-off.

Question 13

Explain how urbanisation helped cause the River’s Severn’s flooding.

Answer 13

Increased urbanisation in the West Midlands increased drainage and surface run-off (more impermeable surfaces).

Question 14

Explain how defences helped cause the River’s Severn’s flooding.

Answer 14

There was a lack of adequate defences to deal with the volume of water that entered the river.

Question 15

Explain how rivers helped cause the River Severn’s flooding in 2007.

Answer 15

At Tewkesbury, the River Severn and River Avon meet at a confluence. The large catchments of each contributed to the flooding.

Question 16

Describe the impacts of the River Severn’s flood in 2007.

Give at least 1 statistic.

Answer 16

Tewkesbury Abbey flooded for the first time in 250 years
Nearly 50,000 homes were flooded.
It cost the British economy over £3 billion.

Question 17

State the source of the River Severn, and its annual precipitation.

Answer 17

Plynlimon, Welsh Mountains.
Over 2500mm/year.

Question 18

Name a place in the River Severn’s middle course.

Answer 18

Shrewsbury.

Question 19

Explain why the discharge of the River Severn increases in the middle course, using an example.

Answer 19

More tributaries join the river (e.g. the Ash Brook) so the discharge and speed increases.

Question 20

Explain how the width and discharge of the River Severn changes in the lower course.

Give a statistic and fact.

Answer 20

Widens and discharge increases.
It’s 70m wide at Tewkesbury.
Major tributaries add to the discharge (e.g. the River Avon joins the River Severn).

Question 21

Where is the River Severn’s mouth?

Answer 21

The Bristol Channel at Bristol.

Question 22

Identify the major UK river system which has its source in Wales, but its mouth in England.

Answer 22

The River Severn.