2.2 rivers

• what does a storm hydrograph show

  how a river behaves after a storm
• what does an annual regime show

  annual patterns of a rivers discharge
• what is river flooding

  after a prolonged period of time of rain
• what is coastal flooding

  by high tides and storm surges
• what is flash flooding

  rain falls quickly and cannot infiltrate
• what is a dam construction


  when dams are built along the course of the river
• what is river engineering

  when the river channel is deepened or widened
• what is afforestation 


  when trees are planted near the river
• what is managed flooding

  when the river is encouraged to flood naturally in some places
• what is land use zoning

  introducing policys to control urban development close to floodplains
• what is an advantage of dam construction

  water is usually stored in a resvoir and can use it for power
• what is a disadvantage of dam construction

  sediment is trapped behind the wall of the dam
• what is an advantage of river engineering

  floodwaters can be diverted away from settlements
• what is a disadvatage to river engineering

  water is just moved quickly downstream - the problem is not dealt with
• what is an advantage of afforestation

  increased inteception
• what is a disadvantage of afforestation


  takes a long time before it works
• what is an advantage of managed flooding

  settlements are protected
• what is a disadvantage of managed flooding

  smaller settlements could still be flooded
• what is an advantage of land use zoning

  reduces the chance of flooding and risk of damage to property
• what is a disadvantage of land use zoning

  resistance to development
• what are the two flooding case studys

  boscastle and somerset levels
• what type of flood was boscastle

  a flash flood
• what type of flood was somerset levels

  seasonal flood
• what is a closed hydrological cycle

  when there is always the same amount of water
• what is a drainage basin


  the area of land drained by a river
• what is a watershed

  the edge of highland surrounding a drainage basin
• what is the source of a river

  the beginning/ start of a river
• what is the confluence of a river

  the point at which two rivers or streams join
• what is a tributary


  a stream or smaller river which joins a larger stream or river
• what is the mouth of a river 


  the point where a river comes to an end
• what is typically found at the upper course of a river

  v -shaped valley

  waterfalls
• what type of erosion happens in the upper course

  vertical erosion
• what features are commonly found in the middle course of a river

  river beaches

  meanders

  oxbow lakes
• what type of erosion happens in the middle course of a river

  lateral erosion
• what features are found at the lower course of a river

  flood plains

  oxbow lakes

  estuarys
• define weathering 


  the process of being worn down by long exposure to the atmosphere
• define erosion


  wearing away of material
• define deposition


  energy reduces so river cannot carry load so it drops it
• define transportation

  the movement of material
• what is freeze thaw weathering

  when water gets into a crack, freezes and then the ice puts pressure on the rock