river tees case study

state what geomorphic processes occur in the upper course of the river tees

• vertical erosion

• chemical weathering

• freeze-thaw weathering

• differential erosion

state what geomorphic processes occur in the middle course of the river tees

• lateral erosion

• transporation

state what geomorphic processes occur in the lower course of the river tees

• lateral erosion

• deposition

state the geology of the upper course of the river tees

limestone

state the geology of the middle course of the river tees

limestone

state the geology of the lower course of the river tees

• sandstone

• alluvium deposits

explain how the resistance of rocks in the upper course of the river tees affects geomorphic processes

• rocks in the upper course are more resistant

• this causes vertical erosion

• as the river erodes the less resistant river bed

• creating steep-sided valleys

explain how limestone in the upper and middle courses of the river tees affects geomorphic processes

• limestone is a porous rock type

• this means there is more water infiltration

• leading to less surface runoff,

• no floodplains,

• an increase in freeze-thaw weathering

• and chemical weathering

explain how the difference in resistance of rocks in the upper course river tees affects geomorphic processes

• difference in resistance to erosion in rock types can cause differential erosion

• where the different rock types erode at varying rates

• creating waterfalls

• and gorges

• which rely on differential erosion to form

explain how the wet and cold climate in the upper course of the river tees affects geomorphic processes

• means more freeze-thaw weathering

• which breaks up sharp bits of rock

• which end up in the river

• and are used in erosive processes such as abrasion

explain how high rainfall in the mountainous regions of the river tees affects geomorphic processes

• high rainfall causes higher river discharge

• this increases the carrying capacity of the river

• resulting in increased downstream erosion

• and flooding in the lower course

explain how high rainfall in the upper course of the river tees affects geomorphic processes

• high rainfall causes mass movements

• as the land is saturated and heavy

explain how summer warmth in the river tees affects geomorphic processes

• increases chemical weathering on rocks

• as it catalyses the reaction between the water and the rocks

state what high force is

a waterfall

state the drop size of high force waterfall

21m

state the geology of high force waterfall

• harder whin sill caprock

• softer underlying limestone

explain what the whin sill intrusion at high force waterfall has caused

• prevented a smooth, concave, long profile

• created a knickpoint

• which has created profile in convex at this point

state the features in the upper course of the river tees

• v-shaped valleys

• interlocking spurs

• high force waterfall and gorge

• rapids

state the features in the middle course of the river tees

• meanders

• oxbow lakes

• meander scars

state the features in the lower course of the river tees

• meanders

• oxbow lakes

• meander scars

• floodplains

• levees

• estuaries

state the number of reservoirs along the river tees

9

state the name of the reservoir in the upper course of the river tees

cow green

explain how cow green reservoir affects geomorphic processes in the river tees

• halts flow of the river

• stopping the transportation of material downstream

• causing sediment to build up in the river

• decreasing the discharge of the river

• limiting downstream flooding

• limiting the creation of alluvium deposit levees in the lower course by deposition

state the name of the meander cut off along the river tees

the mandale loop meander cut off

state the location of the meander cut off along the river tees

stockton

explain what the meander cut off along the river tees is

it shortens the river by 4km

explain how the mandale loop meander cut off affects geomorphic processes in the river tees

• it reroutes the river to a faster, steeper area of land

• which prevents flooding on the wider loop

• limiting the creation of levees by deposition

state when the tees barrage was opened

1995

state the initial cost of the tees barrage

£50 million

state the width of the tees barrage

70m

state what the tees barrage is

• an artificial barrier

• between the tees estuary

• and the upstream catchment

explain how the tees barrage affects geomorphic processes

• prevents tidal flows upstream

• preventing high tide flooding in the lower course

• decreasing deposition of alluvium deposits

state the initial cost of the yarm flood defences

£2 million

state what the yarm flood defences deals with

1 in 100 year flood events

state what the yarm flood defences consists of

• earth embankments

• gabions

• sea walls

• flood gates

explain how the earth embankments in the yarm flood defences affects geomorphic processes in the river tees

• allows higher river discharge before flooding

• increasing lateral erosion

• and reducing deposition on floodplains

state how the gabions in the yarm flood defences affects geomorphic processes in the river tees

reduces lateral erosion of river banks

explain how the sea walls and flood gates in the yarm flood defences affects geomorphic processes in the river tees

• alter the flow of water

• causing increases or decreases in deposition

• and transportation

state why dredging along the river tees is a different management strategies to others

• it is soft management of the river

• in opposition to hard management

explain how dredging affects geomorphic processes in the river tees

• increases the capacity of the river

• which means less flooding downstream

• decreasing the deposition of alluvium deposits

• on floodplaisn

state what the planting of trees along the river tees is called

afforestation

state what has been done to combat deforestation along the river tees

• coniferous forests

• planted in the upper course

explain how afforestation affects geomorphic processes in the river tees

• afforestation causes more water to be taken up by vegetation

• decreasing surface runoff

• which decreases the eroded material from land ending up in the river

• it also decreasing the discharge of the river

• reducing lateral erosion

state the length of the river tees

137km

state the altitude at the source of the river tees

893m above sea level

state the location of the source of the river tees

• cross fell

• in the cumbria moorlands

state the annual rainfall at the source of the river tees

2000mm

state the largest settlement along the river tees

middlesborough

state the length of time river processes in the river tees have been shaping the landscape

8-10,000 years