Key Definition - Rivers

Question 1

Long Profile

Answer 1

The gradient of a river, from its source to its mouth

Question 2

The gradient of a river, from its source to its mouth

Answer 2

Long profile

Question 3

Cross Profile

Answer 3

The side by side cross-section of a river channel or valley

Question 4

The side by side cross-section of a river channel or valley

Answer 4

Cross Profile

Question 5

Erosion

Answer 5

Wearing away & removal of material by a river

Question 6

Wearing away & removal of material by a river.

Answer 6

Erosion

Question 7

Transportation

Answer 7

The movement of eroded material

Question 8

The movement of eroded material.

Answer 8

transportation

Question 9

Deposition

Answer 9

Occurs when material being transported by a river is dropped due to it losing energy

Question 10

Occurs when material being transported by a river is dropped due to its energy

Answer 10

Deposition

Question 11

Interlocking spur

Answer 11

Where the mountain streams weave there way through the V-shaped valley & around the fingers of the land that juts out

Question 12

Where the mountain streams weave their way through the V-shaped valley & around the fingers of the land that juts out

Answer 12

Interlocking spur

Question 13

waterfall

Answer 13

A step in the long profile of a river usually formed when a river crosses over a hard (resisdent) band rock.

Question 14

A step in the long profile of a river usually formed when a river crosses over a hard (resisdent) band rock.

Answer 14

Waterfall

Question 15

Gorge

Answer 15

A narrow steep-sided valley, often formed as a waterfall retreats upstream

Question 16

A narrow steep-sided valley, often formed as a waterfall retreats upstream

Answer 16

Gorge

Question 17

Meander

Answer 17

A wide bend in a river

Question 18

A wide bend in a river

Answer 18

Meander

Question 19

Ox-bow lake

Answer 19

An arc-shaped lake on a floodplain formed by a cut-off meander.

Question 20

An arc-shaped lake on a floodplain formed by a cut-off meander.

Answer 20

Ox-bow lake

Question 21

Levee

Answer 21

Raised bank found on either side of a river, formed or built up by people to protect against flooding

Question 22

Raised bank found on either side of a river, formed or built up by people to protect against flooding

Answer 22

Levee

Question 23

Floodplain

Answer 23

Relatively flat area forming the valley floor either side of a river channel that sometimes floods

Question 24

Relatively flat area forming the valley floor either side of a river channel that sometimes floods

Answer 24

Floodplain

Question 25

Estuary

Answer 25

Tidal mouth of amriver where it meets the sea, wide banks of deposited mud are exposed at low tide

Question 26

Tidal mouth of amriver where it meets the sea, wide banks of deposited mud are exposed at low tide

Answer 26

Estuary

Question 27

Hydrograph

Answer 27

A graph which shows the discharge of a river, related to rainfall, over a period of time

Question 28

A graph which shows the discharge of a river, related to rainfall, over a period of time

Answer 28

Hydrograph

Question 29

Discharge

Answer 29

Quantity of water that passes á given point on a stream or river bank within a given period of time.

Question 30

Quantity of water that passes á given point on a stream or river bank within a given period of time.

Answer 30

Discharge

Question 31

Hard engineering

Answer 31

Using concrete or large artificial structures to defend against natural proccesses, either coastal, fluvial or glacial

Question 32

Using concrete or large artificial structures to defend against natural proccesses, either coastal, fluvial or glacial

Answer 32

Hard engineering

Question 33

Soft engineering

Answer 33

Managing erosion by working with natural proccesses to reduce the risk of flooding

Question 34

Managing erosion by working with natural proccesses to reduce the risk of flooding

Answer 34

Soft engineering

Question 35

Drainage basin

Answer 35

An area of land draind by a river and it's tributaries

Question 36

An area of land draind by a river and it's tributaries

Answer 36

Drainage basin

Question 37

V-shaped valley

Answer 37

When a river its source, it often develops a V-shaped valley as the river erode down (this is called vertical erosion)

Question 38

When a river its source, it often develops a V-shaped valley as the river erode down (this is called vertical erosion)

Answer 38

V-shaped valley

Question 39

Flood

Answer 39

Where river discharge exceeds river channel capacity and water spills onto the flood plain

Question 40

Where river discharge exceeds river channel capacity and water spills onto the flood plain

Answer 40

Flood

Question 41

Relief

Answer 41

The height above the sea level, steepness of slopes and shapes physical features

Question 42

The height above the sea level, steepness of slopes and shapes physical features

Answer 42

Relief

Question 43

Geology

Answer 43

Rocks that form the landscapes

Question 44

Rocks that form the landscapes

Answer 44

Geology

Question 45

bed

Answer 45

Bottom of the river

Question 46

Bottom of the river

Answer 46

bed

Question 47

Bank

Answer 47

Side of the river

Question 48

Side of the river

Answer 48

Bank

Question 49

Load

Answer 49

The material carried by the river

Question 50

The material carried by the river

Answer 50

Load

Question 51

Channel

Answer 51

Pathway where the river travels

Question 52

Pathway where the river travels

Answer 52

Channel

Question 53

4 types of erosion

Answer 53

Abrasion, hydraulic action, attrition and solution

Question 54

Abrasion, hydraulic action, attrition and solution

Answer 54

4 types of erosion

Question 55

Hydraulic action

Answer 55

the sheer force of the water hitting the bed and banks. This is more effective when the water is moving fast and there is a lot of it.

Question 56

the sheer force of the water hitting the bed and banks. This is more effective when the water is moving fast and there is a lot of it.

Answer 56

Hydraulic action

Question 57

Abrasion

Answer 57

Occurs when the load the river is carrying repeatedly hits the river bed and banks, causing some of the material to break off.

Question 58

Occurs when the load the river is carrying repeatedly hits the river bed and banks, causing some of the material to break off.

Answer 58

Abrasion

Question 59

Attrition

Answer 59

Is when stones and boulders carried by the river which knocks against each other and over time are weakened causing bits to fall off and reduce in size

Question 60

Is when stones and boulders carried by the river which knocks against each other and over time are weakened causing bits to fall off and reduce in size

Answer 60

Attrition

Question 61

Solution

Answer 61

Occurs only when the river flows on certain types of rocks such as chalk and limestone. These are soluble in rainwater and become part of the water as they are dissolved by it.

Question 62

Occurs only when the river flows on certain types of rocks such as chalk and limestone. These are soluble in rainwater and become part of the water as they are dissolved by it.

Answer 62

Solution

Question 63

Vertical erosion

Answer 63

When the river erodes downwards - which forms a V-shape valley

Question 64

When the river erodes downwards - which forms a V-shape valley

Answer 64

Vertical erosion