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Geography > Water > Flashcards

Water Flashcards

0
Q

Watershed

A

The highland separating one river basin from another

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1
Q

V-shaped valley

A

Are usually found in the mountains and hills. They often have very steep sides

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2
Q

Mouth

A

The end of the river. The mouth may be where the river meets the sea, a lake or a
A large water way. Most rivers flow into the sea and this is where they end their journey

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3
Q

Ox-bow lake

A

A small arc shaped lake formed when a meander is sealed off by decomposition. Ox-bow lakes are only found on liver flood plains

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4
Q

Meander

A

A bend in a river

Usually in the middle or lower course

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5
Q

Tributary

A

A stream or river that flows into and joins a main river

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6
Q

Confluence

A

Where two rivers or streams meet

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7
Q

Erosion

A

The degradation and removal of rock material by the river

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8
Q

Abrasion

A

Degradation of the river bed through the scouring action of materials being being carried by the river

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9
Q

Hydraulic action

A

Form of mechanical weathering caused by the force of moving water currents rushing into a crack

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10
Q

Attrition

A

A process of erosion where the collisions between parts of the load lead to them breaking down

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11
Q

Corrosion (solution)

A

Soluble particles such as carbonates like limestone and chalk are dissolved into the river by weak acids in the water and are then carried away down the river

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12
Q

Transport

A

The movement of sediment load by water

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13
Q

Load

A

Any material that is in the river

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14
Q

Traction (bed load)

A

The rolling of load along the bed of a river channel

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15
Q

Saltation

A

The transport of load by bouncing along the bed of a river channel

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16
Q

Suspension (suspended load)

A

The transport of load in the body of water in a river. I.e being carried along in the flow

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17
Q

Solution

A

Minerals are dissolved from soil or rocks and carried along in the flow

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18
Q

Deposition

A

When a river loses energy it will drop or deposit some of the material it is carrying

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19
Q

Drainage basin

A

An area of land drained by a river and its tributaries

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20
Q

What does vertical erosion cause and where and why does it happen?

A

Happens in rivers in the mountains as they flows down steep slopes.
Vertical erosion causes a v shaped valley

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21
Q

How are interlocking Spurs made?

A

When the river winds around obstacles of hard rock

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22
Q

When does a waterfall occur?

A
  • river flows over different rock types
  • river erodes soft rock faster creating a step
  • further hydraulic action and abrasion form a plunge pool beneath
  • hard rock above is undercut leaving an unstable top of hard rock
    which collapses providing more material for abrasion
  • process continues - waterfall retreats leaving a steep sided gorge
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23
Q

Precipitation

A

Moisture falling from clouds as rain, snow or hail

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24
Q

Surface run off

A

Water flowing over the surface of land into a river

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25
Q

Evaporation

A

Water lost to the atmosphere as water vapour

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26
Q

Transpiration

A

Water lost through stoma in leaves of plants

27
Q

Groundwater flow

A

Water flowing through deep underlying the rocks

28
Q

Through flow

A

Water flowing through the soil layer into a river

29
Q

Infiltration

A

Water absorbed into the soil from the ground

30
Q

What increases surface runoff?

A

Relief- steep slopes. Water runs straight over land

Rocks- nonpermeable rocks don’t allow infiltration so there is surface runoff

Roads- impermeable. Can’t soak up water

Deforestation- less trees to soak up water. Ground saturates faster

Cattle- trample soil. Compact it so less water infiltrates

31
Q

CASE STUDY- water fall MEDC

A

NIAGARA FALLS - border between Canada and USA

Tourism- boat rides, souvenir shops, restaurants etc. More money in area. Negatives- pollution, disturb animals, attracts pests (pigeons)

Hydroelectric plant- produces lots of energy- one of the worlds greatest sources of hydroelectric power, low cost energy

32
Q

What are some causes of flooding

A

Loss of trees

Heavy rain

Lots of tributaries

Impermeable rock

Built up areas - concrete

Steep slopes

33
Q

What are some effects of flooding

A

Loss of jobs

Loss of properties

Damage to home and business

People and animals killed or injured

Spread of disease

Disruption to motorway and rail networks

Flood defences damaged

34
Q

What are some responses to flooding?

A

Demolition of property which is unstable

Improve drainage systems

Repair or build flood defences

Increase and update flood warning systems

Create new water diversions

35
Q

CASE STUDY - waterfall LEDC

A

SIPI FALLS - Eastern Uganda, near Mt Elgon

major tourist destination

Tourism- campsites , lodges, hiking, climbing etc

creates money and jobs

tourists can be disrespectful, scare animals- birds

36
Q

Hard engineering techniques

A

Building up of levees (artificial levees)- heightens river so flood water is contained

Dams- control amount of discharge

Straightening the channel- increases velocity to remove flood water

Deepening or widening channel- increases the river’s capacity

37
Q

Soft engineering techniques

A

Do nothing- river is left to flood

Flood surrounding farmland- saves the flooding of urban areas

Afforestation- plant trees, soak up flood water

38
Q

CASE STUDY- flooding MEDC

A

BOSCASTLE FLOODS - 2004

North coast of Cornwall

Causes– situated in a valley, stormy weather- ground was saturated, lack of flood control systems, old drainage system

Short term impacts– Property destroyed, 80 cars washed away, burst sewage mains, roads blocked with flood water- made emergency access difficult.

Long term impacts- Home insurance more expensive, town closed to tourists- loss in revenue

39
Q

CASE STUDY- managing rivers

A

Three gorges dam - China, River Yangtze

Costed $30 billion

Dam in upper valley stores water and controls flow

causes landslides and seismic activity

1.2 million people forced to relocate

SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED RISK OF FLOODING

40
Q

CASE STUDY- LEDC flooding

A

BANGLADESH - south Asia

Causes– delta, low land, monsoon season, snow melt from Himalayas, deforestation, global warming

Long term impacts- 100,000 suffering with diarrhoea

Short term impacts- 750 deaths, 30 million homeless, rice and sugar crops washed away

Responses– charities sent boats, food, aid, rebuilding of homes , embankments built along the river, some flood warning systems

41
Q

Should we change our approach to river and flood plain management in the future?

A

Global warming- increasing number of people at risk

Flood risk made worst as town are built close to rivers- In future don’t build on flood plains

Use soft engineering to return river to natural state

Don’t pave over gardens- impermeable.

Make home more flood proof

build more flood defences and flood warning systems

42
Q

Describe the formation of a meander

A

Inner bend- low energy - deposition of sediment- creates a slip off slope. There is a slow current

Outer bend- high energy encourages erosion- abrasion. Steep rive bank. There is a fast current

43
Q

Describe the formation of an oxbow lake

A

1- Lateral erosion of outer bank forms a river cliff. Deposition on inner bank forms a slip off slope

2- due to further hydraulic action and abrasion of outer banks, neck gets smaller.

3- erosion breaks through the neck so the river takes the fastest route, redirecting the flow

4- evaporation and deposition cut off from main channel leaving an oxbow lake.

44
Q

What land forms and features do you find in the upper course of the river?

A

v shaped valleys

narrow/shallow channel

interlocking spurs

waterfalls

gorges

45
Q

What land forms and features do you find in the middle course of the river?

A

open/gentle sloping valley

floodplain

wider/deeper channel

more suspended sediment

meanders/ox bow lakes

river cliffs

slip off slopes

46
Q

What land forms and features do you find in the lower course of the river?

A

open/gentle sloping valley

flat and wide floodplain

wide, open valley

very wide and deep channel

levees

47
Q

Describe how deltas are formed

A

caused by deposition at the mouth of the river

When river enters the sea, it loses its energy and can no longer carry so much material. Its load is deposited.

If this happens faster than the sea can carry it away, a delta forms

48
Q

Why do some people chose to live on or near deltas?

A

They provide rich land for farming

49
Q

What are the 3 types of delta?

A

arcuate

cuspate

birds foot

50
Q

Describe how levees are formed

A

levees are natural embankments formed when the river floods

when a river floods, it deposits its load over the floodplain due to a dramatic drop in the rivers velocity

51
Q

Describe the formation of floodplains

A

as river nears its mouth, it has a large discharge.

Each time the river floods, silt is deposited on the floodplain

52
Q

What factors increase surface run off?

A

relief- steep slope- water runs straight off land

Rocks- non permeable- do not allow infiltration

Farming- ploughing up and down hills forms channels

roads- impermeable- water straight in drains

Trees- deforestation- ground saturates faster

cattle- trample soil, compacts it so less water infiltrates

machinery- compacts soil- less infiltration

53
Q

What does a hydrograph show?

A

The river discharge over a period of time

54
Q

On a hydrograph, what is the lag time?

A

The time between peak rain fall and discharge

55
Q

On a hydrograph, what does a rising limb show?

A

the rising flood water into the river

56
Q

On a hydrograph, what does the falling limb show?

A

The declining flood water

57
Q

On a hydrograph, what does the base flow show?

A

the normal discharge of the river

58
Q

Definition of soft engineering

A

works with the environment

59
Q

Definition of hard engineering

A

Uses machinery or defences constructed by people to control natural processes

60
Q

What are some advantages and disadvantages of using soft engineering techniques

A

environmentally good, cheaper

farmland easily lost, could take a long time for maximum effect (afforestation)

61
Q

What are some advantages and disadvantages of hard engineering techniques

A

last a long time, people feel safe

expensive, ugly, unnatural

62
Q

What are some soft engineering techniques to manage a river?

A

afforestation

flood surrounding farmland- saves flooding of urban areas

do nothing

63
Q

What are some hard engineering techniques to manage a river?

A

straightening the channel- increases velocity to remove flood water

artificial levees- heightens river so flood water is contained

deepening or widening the channel- increases river’s capacity

dams- control river discharge

64
Q

Explain how river land forms affect the lives of people who live along rivers

A

Floodplains- provides ideal land for farming (fertile soils) -eg Bangladesh- and building (flat surface). However flooding can affect farm yield. Therefore buildings and farms need to be protected

Waterfalls- eg Niagara Falls- tourist attraction, provides employment however negatives- attract pests as tourists leave litter

65
Q

Explain how a slip off slope is formed

A

there is a slower flow of the river as the river has less energy to transport material

this causes the material to be deposited. Large stones are deposited first and then smaller ones

Geography (9 decks)

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