Rivers vocab

Question 1

Watershed

Answer 1

The highland separating one river basin from another

Question 2

Tributary

Answer 2

A smaller river that joins a larger one

Question 3

Confluence

Answer 3

The junction of two rivers. When a river splits in two

Question 4

Drainage basin

Answer 4

The land that drained by a river and it’s tributaries

Question 5

River mouth

Answer 5

End of the river

Question 6

Evaporation

Answer 6

Water leaving a surface and going into the atmosphere

Question 7

Condensation

Answer 7

Water which collects as droplets on a cold surface when humid air is in contact with it

Question 8

Precipitation

Answer 8

Rain, snow, sleet or hail that falls to or condenses on the ground

Question 9

Interception

Answer 9

When precipitation does not reach the soil due to leaves and branches

Question 10

Infiliation

Answer 10

Process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil

Question 11

Percolation

Answer 11

Is the process of a liquid slowly passing through a filter (soil)

Question 12

Ground water store

Answer 12

Available stores of water side ways through the soil

Question 13

Ground water flow

Answer 13

It is the movement of water side ways through the soil

Question 14

Through flow

Answer 14

When water travels through the soil towards a river or sea

Question 15

Surface runoff

Answer 15

Water that flows over the land surface

Question 16

Attrition

Answer 16

When the river erodes the load it is carrying. Particles bumping against one another will eventually become smaller and more rounded

Question 17

Abrasion/Corrasion

Answer 17

Material carried by the river wears away the bed and banks, and help cause vertical and lateral erosion. This occurs especially when discharge is high

Question 18

Hydraulic action/Hydraulic power

Answer 18

The force of the water can dislodge materials. Air bubbles forced into cracks can suddenly collapse and the vibrations caused can weaken the rocks. This only occurs where water flows fast

Question 19

Solution/Corrosion

Answer 19

Water in the channel can react with rock in the bed and banks and dissolve it . The rate of solution may depend on the water acidity and temperature.

Question 20

Suspension

Answer 20

Tiny particles can remain suspended in water

Question 21

Saltation

Answer 21

Particles to large to become suspended may be lifted and dropped and gradually move downstream as a result

Question 22

Solution

Answer 22

Products of solution can be carried by the water even during low flows

Question 23

Traction

Answer 23

Large stones may slide when river flows are fast. Smaller stones may assist this movement.

Question 24

Levee

Answer 24

An embankment raised to prevent a river from over flowing

Question 25

Floodplains

Answer 25

It is a flat land adjacent to a stream or river that stretches from the banks of the channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge

Question 26

Source

Answer 26

Beginning of a river

Question 27

What is a gorge

Answer 27

the narrow steep-sided valley in front of the waterfall.

Question 28

Lateral erosion

Answer 28

Occurs mainly where the river gradient is less. The strength if the bed and banks will affect the rate of erosion

Question 29

Vertical erosion

Answer 29

Occurs mainly in steep, rocky, upland areas. The geography of the river bed will affect the speed at which this occurs

Question 30

Formation of a meander scar

Answer 30

A meander is formed in river, due to the inside bend moving slower than the outside bend. As it moves a meander neck is formed. Over time the two sides of the meander neck comes closer together, until only a small piece of land is separating them. This barrier is broken down during a storm when the river over flows. There is now a circle in the middle of the river. Because it is quick to cut straight through the loop the water doesn't travel through I the what was once the meander as time goes on this part of the river set separated from the actual river creating an oxbow lake. When the oxbow lake dries up a meander scar is left behind