Depositional landforms Flashcards
(12 cards)
What are floodplains?
Flat expanses of land on either side of the river
Floodplains are important ecological zones that support diverse wildlife and plant species.
How do floodplains form?
Through the migration of meanders
Meanders are the winding curves or bends in a river.
What can cause a river to overflow its banks?
High discharge (water)
High discharge can occur due to heavy rainfall or melting snow.
What happens to water as it spreads across the floodplain?
More of the water is in contact with the land surface
This increased contact can lead to higher levels of groundwater recharge.
What effect does increased friction have on river water?
Reduces velocity and causes material deposition
This process gradually increases the height of the floodplain.
What type of material is deposited first in a floodplain?
The heaviest material nearest to the river channel forming a natural embankment called a Levee
This material forms natural embankments called levees.
What is an estuary?
Where the river meets the sea
Estuaries are crucial for fish breeding and serve as nurseries for many marine species.
What forms as a result of the interaction between the river and tides in an estuary?
Large deposits of sediment forming mudflats and salt marshes
These ecosystems provide habitat for various wildlife and help protect shorelines.
What happens when incoming tides meet the freshwater of the river?
The river velocity drops and deposition occurs
This process leads to the accumulation of sediments in the estuary.
What do deposited sediments build up to form in estuaries?
Mudflats
Mudflats are important for supporting bird populations and other wildlife.
What occurs particularly at low tide on mudflats?
Mudflats rise above the water surface
This exposure creates a unique habitat that changes with tidal cycles.
What begins to grow on mudflats over time?
Vegetation
This vegetation contributes to the formation of salt marshes.
