Ravenous River Questions Flashcards
(20 cards)
1
Q
What are the three types of weathering?
A
- Biological
- Chemical
- Physical
2
Q
What are the three types of erosion?
A
- River
- Slope(mass)
- (Post) glacial
3
Q
What are the three types of transport?
A
- River
- Slope(mass)
- Biological
4
Q
What are the four types of river erosion?
A
- Abrasion
- Attrition
- Solution
- Hydraulic action
5
Q
What are the four types of river transport?
A
- Suspension
- Solution
- Saltation
- Traction
6
Q
List
The formation of a waterfall
A
- Water flows over less resistant rocks eroding
- Eventually a plunge pool forms, which undercuts the resistant
- The overhanging eventually erodes, falling off
- The waterfall recedes making a gorge, and the process(3-4) repeats
7
Q
List
Formation of an oxbow lake
A
- A river eventually meanders to the point where it forms a horseshoe shape
- The river erodes through the inner curves, forming a strait
- Deposition occurs on outside of the curve, blocking it off, forming an oxbow lake
8
Q
Features of
Upper course
A
- At least 610m above sea level
- An average of 2500mm of rainfall
- Seabed usually hard and impenetrable
- Sedimentary rocks formed here includes shales
9
Q
Features
Mid-course
A
- Around sea level
- 7000mm average rainfall
- Seabed soft, and permeable
- Sedimentary rocks formed here includes sandstone
10
Q
Features
Lower course
A
- Around seabed
- Same rainfall as country
- Seabed of soft rocks
- Sedimentary rocks formed here includes mudstone
11
Q
Characteristics of a river
A
- Gradient: Decreases
- Velocity and discharge:Increases
- Channel width/Depth/Roughness: Increases
- Sediment/Load:Decreases
12
Q
Characteristics of Storm hydrograph
A
- Rising limb:Indicates discharge increase after rainfall
- Peak flow: Discharge max level
- Recession (falling) limb:Indicates discharge decrease once water flows downstream
- Lag time:Time from peak rainfall to peak discharge
13
Q
Characteristics of short lag time
A
- Heavy rapid snow melt and rainfall reaching the ground quickly
- Impermeable rock on the ground
- Frozen, saturated clay covers land along with clay little vegetation and deforestation is common
- The area is urban, with impenetrable surfaces
14
Q
Characteristics of long lag time
A
- Light slow snow melt and rainfall reaching the ground slowly
- Permeable rock on the ground
- Melted, unsaturated sand covers land along with clay with great woodlands
- The area is rural, with penetrable surfaces
15
Q
How do human and physical processes interact to cause flooding?
A
- Heavy Rainfall: Intense or prolonged rain can saturate the ground, causing water to overflow rivers and flood surrounding areas.
- Snowmelt: Rapid melting of snow and ice can lead to a sudden increase in water flow, overwhelming drainage systems.
- Topography & Drainage: Low-lying areas or valleys naturally collect water, making them more prone to flooding.
- Coastal Storms & Rising Sea Levels: Storm surges and tidal waves push seawater inland, while rising sea levels gradually increase flood risks.
- Impermeable Rock & Soil: Some surfaces don’t absorb water well, causing quicker runoff into rivers and streets.
- Urbanization & Infrastructure: Concrete roads and buildings replace natural landscapes, preventing water absorption and increasing surface runoff.
- Deforestation: Trees and vegetation slow down water flow and absorb rain; removing them makes flooding more likely.
- Poor Drainage Systems: Inadequate drainage in cities causes water to pool in streets, worsening floods.
- Climate Change: Rising global temperatures lead to more extreme weather events, increasing rainfall intensity and coastal flooding.
- River Modification: Dams, levees, and channelization can sometimes restrict natural water movement, leading to unexpected flood events.
16
Q
How do human and physical processes interact to cause flooding?
A
- Heavy Rainfall: Intense or prolonged rain can saturate the ground, causing water to overflow rivers and flood surrounding areas.
- Snowmelt: Rapid melting of snow and ice can lead to a sudden increase in water flow, overwhelming drainage systems.
- Topography & Drainage: Low-lying areas or valleys naturally collect water, making them more prone to flooding.
- Coastal Storms & Rising Sea Levels: Storm surges and tidal waves push seawater inland, while rising sea levels gradually increase flood risks.
- Impermeable Rock & Soil: Some surfaces don’t absorb water well, causing quicker runoff into rivers and streets.
- Urbanization & Infrastructure: Concrete roads and buildings replace natural landscapes, preventing water absorption and increasing surface runoff.
- Deforestation: Trees and vegetation slow down water flow and absorb rain; removing them makes flooding more likely.
- Poor Drainage Systems: Inadequate drainage in cities causes water to pool in streets, worsening floods.
- Climate Change: Rising global temperatures lead to more extreme weather events, increasing rainfall intensity and coastal flooding.
- River Modification: Dams, levees, and channelization can sometimes restrict natural water movement, leading to unexpected flood events.
17
Q
Why is the flood risk in the UK increasing?
A
- Climate Change: More frequent and intense storms are bringing heavier rainfall, overwhelming drainage systems and causing rivers to overflow Rising temperatures also lead to longer dry spells, which make the ground less absorbent—so when rain finally comes, it runs off quickly instead of soaking in
- Urbanisation: Expanding cities replace natural landscapes with concrete and asphalt, which don’t absorb water. This increases surface runoff and puts pressure on drainage systems
- Deforestation & Land Use Changes: Removing trees and vegetation reduces the land’s ability to absorb rainwater, making floods more likely
- Invasive Plants: Species like Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam can destabilise riverbanks, increasing flood risk
- Aging Infrastructure: Some flood defences are in poor condition, making them less effective
18
Q
How does the environment Agency manage flood risk?
A
The Environment Agency makes Catchment Management Plans, manage river and land use, controlling developments in flood plains, building flood defences as well as helping people to prepare and give warnings
19
Q
How is flooding reduced through Catchment Management Plans?
A
- Reduce run-off by improving land use and restoring flood plains
- Prevent unsuitable development on flood plains
- Improve flood defence in urban areas and protect vulnerable areas
- Work with natural flood processes where few live
20
Q
Types of flood engineering:
A
- Embankments;high banks(levees)
- Flood walls
- Demountable flood barriers
- Flood/storm surge barriers
###Soft engineering - River restoration
- Flood-plains retention
