Rivers

Question 1

What is a tributary

Answer 1

Small streams that join a river

Question 2

What is a watershed

Answer 2

High ground between 2 drainage basins

Question 3

What are levees

Answer 3

Raised banks formed by the river on its floodplain

Question 4

What is a confluence

Answer 4

The meeting point between 2 rivers

Question 5

What are floodplains

Answer 5

Land that is covered in water in times of heavy rain

Question 6

What are meanders

Answer 6

Bends in a river

Question 7

What are estuaries

Answer 7

Near the sea the part of the river that is affected by the tides

Question 8

What is the mouth

Answer 8

The placed where the river reaches the sea

This is the end of the rivers course

Question 9

What is a feature (landform)

Answer 9

A natural, physical part of the Earth’s surface e.g. volcano, cave, waterfall

Question 10

What are the 4 processes of river erosion

Answer 10

1. Hydraulic action
2. Abrasion
3. Solution
4. Attrition

Question 11

What is hydraulic action

Answer 11

Is the force of fast-flowing water that breaks up the bed and banks of the river

Almost like a power hose

Question 12

What is abrasion

Answer 12

Stones carried by the river (load) hit against the bed and banks of the river, wearing it away

Question 13

What is solution

Answer 13

When the river water dissolves the rocks over which it flows

Question 14

What is attrition

Answer 14

When stones roll along the bed or collide with each other. River stones become round and smooth over time

Question 15

What are the 4 processes of river transportation

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Why does a river deposit its load

Answer 16

• The river loses its speed and energy, because the gradient (slope) is almost flat
• Its volume decreases in the summer due to evaporation
• River deposition is useful because river mud, called alluvium, is a fertile soil. This helps farmers by making their fields more fertile

Question 17

What is the river load

Answer 17

This is all the material a river transports e.g. rocks, pebbles, silt, sand, mud and clay

Question 18

What are the stages of a river

Answer 18

1. Youthful stage
2. Mature stage
3. Old stage

Question 19

Name 3 features of the youthful stage

Answer 19

V-shaped valley
Interlocking spurs
Waterfall

Question 20

Name the process in the youthful stage of a river

Answer 20

Erosion

Question 21

Name 2 features in the mature stage

Answer 21

1. Meanders
2. Ox-bow lakes

Question 22

Name the processes in the mature stage of a river

Answer 22

Erosion and deposition

Question 23

Name 3 features in the old stage of a river

Answer 23

1. Levees
2. Floodplain
3. Delta

Question 24

Name the process in the old stage of a river

Answer 24

Deposition

Question 25

Name the 3 stages of floodplains

Answer 25

1. Deposition of sediment 2. Gradual build up 3. Fine sediments settle further away

Question 26

What are artificial levees

Answer 26

They are built by humans using soil, concrete or other materials to control flooding and protect settlement

Question 27

Name the 6 reasons on how people interact with rivers

Answer 27

* H.E.P. (Hydroelectric power) * Transport * Sport and recreation * Irrigation * Water supply * Fertile floodplain

Question 28

Name 2 positive impacts of dams

Answer 28

* H.E.P. Generation * Water supply and irrigation

Question 29

Name 2 negative impacts of dams

Answer 29

* Displacement * Environmental damage

Question 30

Name 4 reasons why flooding has increased recently

Answer 30

* Population growth * Building on floodplains * Clearing trees for houses * Heavier rainfall due to climate change

Question 31

Name 3 reasons on how to reduce flooding

Answer 31

* Dredge slit from the bed of the rivers * Don’t build on floodplains * Reforestation (plant more trees)