Rivers Terminology

Question 1

Attrition

Answer 1

Load crashing into each other in a river – normally suspended load

Question 2

River Bank

Answer 2

Sides of the river channel. A river has two banks

Question 3

River Bed

Answer 3

Bottom of the river channel

Question 4

Channel

Answer 4

Route course (between bed and banks) that a river flows. The flow of the river is often described as channel flow

Question 5

Confluence

Answer 5

Where two rivers join/meet

Question 6

Abrasion

Answer 6

Process of a rivers’ load crashing and rubbing into a rivers’ banks and bed causing pieces to break off

Question 7

Corrosion

Answer 7

Process of water dissolving a rivers’ load as well as its bed and banks

Question 8

Discharge

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Drainage basin

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

Erosion

Answer 10

Process of wearing something away e.g. a river on its banks.

Question 11

Estuary

Answer 11

Section of the river near the mouth that is tidal

Question 12

Hydraulic action

Answer 12

Water and air forced into cracks in a rivers banks and bed causing erosion through increased pressure

Question 13

Mouth

Answer 13

End of the river, this is normally where a river enters the sea, but it can be where it enters a lake

Question 14

Saltation

Answer 14

Process of load bouncing a long a river bed

Question 15

Solution

Answer 15

Process of dissolved pieces of material being transported in a solution

Question 16

Source

Answer 16

Start of the river, normally found in mountainous areas

Question 17

Thalweg

Answer 17

Fastest part of the river - always near the middle of the river channel, where there is least friction

Question 18

Traction

Answer 18

Process of large pieces of load rolling along a river bed

Question 19

Transportation

Answer 19

River can transport load when it has excess energy – 4 main ways; traction, saltation, solution and suspension

Question 20

Tributary

Answer 20

Small river that flows into a bigger river

Question 21

Watershed

Answer 21

Dividing line between two drainage basins.

Question 22

Suspension

Answer 22

Small particles are carried along in the water. This could make the water look cloudy or muddy.

Question 23

Deposition

Answer 23

Occurs when river drops off material due to lack of energy.