rivers

Created by

Rebecca Scandellari

Cards (67)

drainage basin definition 
drainage basins drain all the water which lands on the Earth's surface. A drainage basin is an open system. Every drainage basin is unique and is different in shape and size, with different rock types, relief and land use
watershed definition
the boundary between drainage basin
source definition
The point furthest from the mouth where the river starts
confluence definition
The place where two or more river/streams meet
mouth definition 
where the river enter the sea/ocean/lake
tributary definition
a stream or river flowing into a larger stream or river
catchment area definition
A river drains the water collected from a specific area
evaporation definition
when water turns into water vapour and rises after heating
Condensation definition
when water vapour turns back into water droplets after cooling
Transpiration definition
water vapour given off by plants
Precipitation defintion
water in any form that falls to earth
Surface runoff definition
water running over the surface of the earth
Groundwater flow definition
Water that travels underground through rock
Interception definition
when water is stopped from reaching the ground often by plants
Stem flow definition
when water travels down the stem or trunk of a plant
Infiltration defintion
when water soaks into the soil surface
Percolation definition
When water moves downwards through underground rocks
Through-flow definition
water traveling sideways through soil
Types of erosion
Hydraulic action, Abrasion, Attrition, Solution
Hydraulic action definition
The force of water which removes material from the bed and banks of the river. As it smashes against the river banks, air becomes trapped in the cracks of the river bank and bed, and causes the rock to break apart.
Abrasion defintion
When pebbles grind along the river bank and bed in a sand-papering effect.
Attrition definition
When rocks that the river is carrying knock against each other. They break apart to become smaller and more rounded
Solution defintion(erosion)
when the water dissolves certain types of rocks, eg limestone.
types of transportation
Traction, Saltation, Suspension, Solution
Traction defintion
Large, heavy pebbles are rolled along the river bed. This is most common near the source of a river, as here the load is larger.
Saltation defintion
pebbles are bounced along the river bed, most commonly near the source.
suspension definition
lighter sediment is suspended (carried) within the water, most commonly near the mouth of the river.
solution definition (transportation)
the transport of dissolved chemicals. This varies along the river depending on the presence of soluble rocks.
deposition definition
When a river does not have enough energy to carry materials it drops them.
Long profile definition
When you look at the whole course of a river. It shows you
how the gradient (steepness) changes over the different course
upper course characteristics
Shallow, Narrow, Low velocity, V Shaped valley, rapids and potholes, waterfalls and gorges
middle course characteristics
floodplain and levees, meanders and oxbow lakes
lower course characteristics
Delta and estuary
cross profile definition
cross-sections from one bank to another. Cross profiles of the upper, middle and lower courses show the changes in the river channel
Bradshaw-there is more discharge as you go down stream
Bradshaw-there is more occupied channel width as you go downstream
Bradshaw-there is more channel depth as you go downstream
Bradshaw-there is a higher average velocity as you go downstream
Bradshaw-there is a bigger load quantity as you go down stream
Bradshaw-the load particle size is smaller as you go downstream