Rivers

Question 1

Define tributary

Answer 1

A small river that flows into a bigger river.

Question 2

Define watershed

Answer 2

The dividing line between two drainage basins

Question 3

Define abrasion

Answer 3

River scrapes its pebbles along bed and bank, wearing it away.

Question 4

Define hydraulic action

Answer 4

Sheer power of water dislodge rock particles.

Question 5

Define corrosion

Answer 5

River water dissolves rocks in bed and bank

Question 6

Define attrition

Answer 6

Pebbles in river smashed into each other - smaller/rounder

Question 7

Define transportation

Answer 7

The river can transport material when it has excess energy.

Question 8

Define traction

Answer 8

The process of large pieces of load rolling along a river bed.

Question 9

Define suspension

Answer 9

Fine materials (like soil) is light - floats in river - turn the river muddy colored (raining)

Question 10

Define saltation

Answer 10

The process of load bouncing a long a river bed.

Question 11

Define solution

Answer 11

Cant’t see. Certain rock types are dissolved in water like chalk or limestone

Question 12

Define discharge

Answer 12

the amount of water being carried by a river.

Question 13

Define hydro logical cycle

Answer 13

aka water cycle- the continuous movement of water through the land,oceans and atmosphere.

Question 14

Define precipitation

Answer 14

Any moisture that falls from the sky e.g. rain or snow.

Question 15

Define infiltration

Answer 15

When water travels from the surface of the earth into the ground beneath.

Question 16

Define surface run-off

Answer 16

When water travels across the surface of the earth

Question 17

Define interception

Answer 17

When an object (building, tree) stops precipitation reaching the ground beneath.

Question 18

Define transpiration

Answer 18

Liquid water evaporating from vegetation.

Question 19

Define groundwater flow

Answer 19

The movement of water through saturated ground.

Question 20

Describe the formation of deltas.

Answer 20

When a river meets the sea its velocity suddenly reduces. This reduction in velocity means that much of the rivers load is deposited at the mouth of the river. If the river deposits quicker than the sea can erode then a delta starts to develop

Question 21

Define hard engineering

Answer 21

building physical and permanent structures usually out of concrete and/or metal. Hard engineering solutions are usually more expensive, often ugly to look at, but can be very effective at preventing floods.

Question 22

Define soft engineering

Answer 22

This working with nature to reduce flooding. Soft engineering solutions can be cheaper and less visually intrusive.

Question 23

Define interlocking spurs

Answer 23

In the upper valley a river is in the mountains. Water takes the easiest path downhill so twists &turns around the high land (spurs) forming interlocking spurs.