Rivers Terminology Flashcards
(23 cards)
Attrition
Load crashing into each other in a river – normally suspended load
River Bank
Sides of the river channel. A river has two banks
River Bed
Bottom of the river channel
Channel
Route course (between bed and banks) that a river flows. The flow of the river is often described as channel flow
Confluence
Where two rivers join/meet
Abrasion
Process of a rivers’ load crashing and rubbing into a rivers’ banks and bed causing pieces to break off
Corrosion
Process of water dissolving a rivers’ load as well as its bed and banks
Discharge
The amount of water being carried by a river. Discharge is measured as cubic metres per second (cumecs) - calculate discharge by using the formula discharge = cross-section x velocity
Drainage basin
Area of land that drains into one river and its tributaries. A drainage basin is known as an open system because water can be added and lost.
Erosion
Process of wearing something away e.g. a river on its banks.
Estuary
Section of the river near the mouth that is tidal
Hydraulic action
Water and air forced into cracks in a rivers banks and bed causing erosion through increased pressure
Mouth
End of the river, this is normally where a river enters the sea, but it can be where it enters a lake
Saltation
Process of load bouncing a long a river bed
Solution
Process of dissolved pieces of material being transported in a solution
Source
Start of the river, normally found in mountainous areas
Thalweg
Fastest part of the river - always near the middle of the river channel, where there is least friction
Traction
Process of large pieces of load rolling along a river bed
Transportation
River can transport load when it has excess energy – 4 main ways; traction, saltation, solution and suspension
Tributary
Small river that flows into a bigger river
Watershed
Dividing line between two drainage basins.
Suspension
Small particles are carried along in the water. This could make the water look cloudy or muddy.
Deposition
Occurs when river drops off material due to lack of energy.