river landforms

Question 1

waterfalls (upper course) + gorge

Answer 1

forms when a river flows over an area of hard rock followed by an area of softer rock
softer rock is eroded by HA and abrasion more than harder rock creating a step
further erosion of softer rock
steep drop is created which is the waterfall e.g high force on river tees
hard rock is eventually undercut by erosion. becomes unsupported and collapses
collapsed rock are swirled around at the foot causing abrasion of the softer rock to occur creating a plunge pool
more undercutting causes more collapses. waterfall retreats, leaving behind a steep - sided gorge.

waterfall retreat

Question 2

fluvial meaning

Answer 2

river

Question 3

interlocking spurs

Answer 3

in the upper course most of the erosion is vertically downwards, creating steep sided v - shaped valleys.
rivers lack the power top erode sideways (laterally) - so they have to wind around
the hillsides that interlock with each other as the river winds around them are called interlocking spurs

Question 4

meanders

Answer 4

large bends are formed in middle and lower course
current is fast on outside cuz river channel is deeper so less friction to slow the water down
so more erosion takes place on the outside forming river cliffs
slower on inside as it is shallower so more friction
so eroded material is deposited on the inside forming slip off slopes

Question 5

ox bow lakes

Answer 5

erosion causes outside bends to get closer
this causes what is called the neck - which is the land btween the bends
river breaks through - often through flooding - river flows along the shortest course
deposition eventually cuts of the meander, forming an ox