The river channel

• 3 forms of the river channel:

  1. Meandering: River flows in broad ends
  2. Braided: Made up of smaller channels created by material that has been deposited
  3. Straight: Few bends in the river.
• Bradshaw model - Modelling for rivers

  1. Theoretical model that shows a river’s characteristics change as it is goes downstream.
  2. When going downstream, if the triangle increases, the variable increases.

  
• Discharge increases when


  River/river Sun hold more water
• The 3 courses of a river

  • Upper
  • Middle
  • Lower
• Upper course (youthful stage)

  • Steep gradient
  • Small amount of water
  • Energy used mostly for erosion
  • Narrow-shallow channel
  • V-shaped valley
  • Interlocking spurs
  • Waterfalls & gorges
• Middle course


  • Open, gentle sloping valley
  • Wider/deeper channel
  • More sediment suspended
  • Meanders (curves)
  • River cliffs
• Lower course (mature stage)

  • Open/gentle sloping valleys with floodplain
  • Flute & wide flood plain
  • Ox-bow lakes
  • Levees (artificial)
  • Slip-off slopes