EROSION- rivers and coasts

Question 1

What is a long profile of a river?

Answer 1

Shows river from source to mouth

Question 2

At what point is the load in a river larger- upper or lower course?

Answer 2

Upper (hasn’t been broken down by erosion yet)

Question 3

What is the Bradshaw model?

Answer 3

Model showing how river characteristics change as it flows downstream. Triangle increasing in size means variable increases as you head downstream

Question 4

What is speed of flow/velocity of a river measured in?

Answer 4

Metres/second

Question 5

Does speed of flow/velocity of a river generally increase or decrease dowstream?

Answer 5

Increases- as river becomes more efficient with less contact with banks

Question 6

What is discharge?

Answer 6

Volume of water flowing through river at a given time (increases as moves downstream)

Question 7

What is discharge measured in

Answer 7

cubic metres/second

Question 8

What is load quantity?

Answer 8

How much material a river quarries- increases with discharge and velocity

Question 9

What is a drainage basin

Answer 9

Area of land around a river that’s drained by rivers and tributaries

Question 10

What’s a watershed

Answer 10

Area of high land forming the edge of a river basin

Question 11

Confluence?

Answer 11

Point at which 2 rivers meet

Question 12

Is a drainage basin a closed or open system?

Answer 12

Open

Question 13

What is interception?

Answer 13

Storage of water on leaf and plant stems

Question 14

Infiltration?

Answer 14

Water soaking/filtering into soil

Question 15

What is throughflow?

Answer 15

Movement of water through lower soil towards rivers

Question 16

Runoff?

Answer 16

Sum of all water flowing over drainage basin surface

Question 17

What is the main output (final release) of water in a drainage basin?

Answer 17

Rivers flowing into the sea

Question 18

Hydraulic action (quarrying)

Answer 18

Power of water smashing against river banks, causing rocks to break as air and water get trapped in cracks

Question 19

Corrasion/abrasion?

Answer 19

Pebbles grinding along river bank and bed (sand paper effect)

Question 20

Attrition?

Answer 20

Rocks knocking against each other > smaller, rounder

Question 21

Solution?

Answer 21

Water dissolves certain rock types (limestone)

Question 22

3 human causes of erosion?

Answer 22

1. Deforestation
2. housing near river banks (adding compressive force to soil beyond capacity)
3. soil extraction from bank

Question 23

List 4 types of erosion and weathering in rivers

Answer 23

1. Hydraulic action
2. Corrasion (abrasion)
3. Attrition
4. Solution

Question 24

List 4 types of transportation in rivers?

Answer 24

1. Traction
2. Saltation
3. Suspension
4. Solution

Question 25

What is traction in rivers and oceans?

Answer 25

Large heavy pebbles ROLL along river bed (common near source when load larger) OR sea floor

Question 26

What is saltation in rivers and ocean?

Answer 26

Pebbles BOUNCE along bed (near source) OR large sand grains/shingle in ocean

Question 27

What is suspension in rivers/ocean?

Answer 27

Lighter sediment like clay suspended (carried) in water (in rivers close to mouth)

Question 28

Solution in rivers/oceans?

Answer 28

Transport of dissolved chemicals- varies along river, depending on presence of soluble rocks

Question 29

What is deposition?

Answer 29

When river loses energy it drops any materials it has been carrying

Question 30

What are 3 factors that lead to deposition?

Answer 30

1. Shallow water 2. End of river journey (mouth) 3. When volume of water decreases

Question 31

How does corrasion/abrasion occur on coasts?

Answer 31

Rocks thrown into cliffs by waves, breaking off parts of cliff.

Question 32

How does hydraulic action shape coasts?

Answer 32

water + air get trapped in cracks. Increasing pressure causes rocks to crack.

Question 33

How does attrition shape coasts?

Answer 33

rocks, sand, stones being thrown into each other by sea currents, waves

Question 34

How does solution shape coasts?

Answer 34

acidity of sea water causing parts of cliff to dissolve