Rivers Flashcards
(33 cards)
name two types of erosion
intrinsic and extrinsic
how many meters does it have to be a classified as an upland area
around 200 m and 500m
name the rivers in the UK
River Severn 220m
River Thames 215m
two types of river transportation
Suspension - Saltation
Saltation
small pebbles and stones are bounced along the river bed.
Traction
large boulders and rocks are rolled along the river bed.
Suspension
fine light material is carried along in the water
the processes of a waterfall ( 6 marker )
waterfalls flows over a hard rock, there is a softer layer of rock that erodes ( by hydraulic action and abrasion)
this creates a “step” as the water goes, the step erodes more of the softer rock, a steep drops and eventually creates waterfall
where would you find a meander
middle lower course
State one reason why a river might deposit its load.
- Loss of river velocity, causing it to deposit its load due to a loss of energy.
What feature forms on the outside of a meander
river cliff
Describe the shape of the long profile of a river in
the upper and lower course
- Upper course river features include steep-sided V-shaped valleys
- Lower course river features include wide flat-bottomed valleys
Explain the formation of an oxbow lake
a river stands on a flatter land, it swings from side to side, forming winding bends called meanders. This causes the meanders to grow bigger and bigger over time. Eventually the river may take a short cut, cutting across the narrow neck of the loop, leaving a separated U-shaped lake known as an oxbow.
Name one upland area in the UK
The Northwest Highlands in Scotland
Name one change to a river as you move downstream
vertical erosion
Define lowland area.
Lowland areas are not very high above sea level. They are often flat. The shape of the landscape is largely determined by: glaciation. rivers.
two landforms you would find in the
lower course of a river
- The Mississippi Delta
- Cuspate - the land around the mouth of the river
the formation of a levee
Levees are formed by the repeated flooding of the river. When the river floods, the biggest, most coarse material will be dumped close to the river banks. This will continue to build up the levee over time.
Name one physical factor that can effect a hydrograph
Heavy Storms
Lengthy rainfall
What type of transportation rolls large boulders at high velocity
Traction - large boulders and rocks are rolled along the river bed
What type of erosion involves the sediment colliding together and breaking into smaller particles
Attrition is the collision between sediment particles that break into smaller and more rounded pebbles.
two human factors that affect a hydrograph
Area that have been urbanised result in an in crease in the use of impermeable building materials.
how does river erode
six marker
What is an example of a river and its landforms
V-shaped valleys, interlocking spurs, rapids, waterfalls and gorges.