River profiles

• Long profile


  a line representing the river from its source to its mouth. it shows how the river changes over its course.
• Upper course


  In the upper course, there is often an upland area. The rivers load is large as it hasn‘t been broken down by erosion yet.

  
• Lower course


  The land is a lot flatter. The rivers load is fine sediment, as erosion has broken down the rocks.

  
• Cross profile


  Shows a cross-section of a rivers channel and valley at a certain point along the rivers course
• A: as the river flows downhill there is an Increase in vertical erosion. the channel is shallow and narrow because there is not a lot of water in the channel

  
• B: as the river flows into the middle course, there is some vertical erosion but more lateral erosion. The channel is wider and deeper as a result.

  
• C: in the lower course there is a lot less erosion, with only some lateral erosion. the channel is at its widest and deepest.