topic 4 river processes and pressures Flashcards
What is traction?
Movement of larger rocks rolling along the river bed.
What is saltation?
Hopping motion of particles to heavy to be suspended.
What is solution?
Particles dissolves in water
What is suspension?
Particles carried within water
(Physical)freeze thaw:
Fluctuating tempratures-water expands when frozen.
(Chemical)-acid rain
High pH(acidic) water touches rock
What is a confuence?
Where 2 rivers meet
What is the river land form found in the upper couse?
Waterfalls(gorges
And interlocking spurs
What river land form is found in the middle course?
Meanders and Ox-Bow-Lakes
Discharge
The volume of water flowing in a river at one particular point and time
Measured in cubic meters/second
What is long profile?
The long profile shows how a river’s gradient changes as it flows from its source to its mouth
What is the long profile of a river?
Shows the steepness of a river changes over the course of a river.
The gradient ________ (the slope becomes more gentle)
as the river moves from its upper course towards its lower course.
Decreases
What are the sections of a river’s course?
- upper course
- middle course
- lower course
Whaere in the river is the gradient steepest?
Upper course
What is the cross-profile of a river?
It shows you the cross section of the river
(you can see the shape of the river bed.)
(As rivers flow downhill, they form valleys and channels. The shape of these features changes along the course of the river.)
Corss profile Upper course landmarks:
Erosion>deposition
This means there is the valley is a steep sided( v shaped valley)
-the channel the water flows through is shallow and not very deep.
Corss profile middle course landmarks:
the middle course, neither erosion nor deposition is particularly dominant.
This means that
- the valley has a gentle slope
- the channel is wider and deeper than the upper course
Cross profile-lower course landmarks:
Deposition>erosion
This menas that
- The valley is wide and flat
- The channel is wide and deep
A river’s long profile shows how the _______ changes over its course.
Steepness
What are the characteristics of valleys and channels in the upper courses of rivers?
- shallow channel
- steep valley
- v-shaped valley
- narrow channel
Lateral erosion dominates in the ______course and ______course.
- lower
- middle
Vertical erosion dominates the ______course
Upper
Why is vertical erosion dominant in the upper course?
because high levels of turbulence make rough and angular particles drag along the river bed.