Physical landscapes in the UK: river landscapes Glossary

abrasion(form of erosion)

Rocks and boulders rub and wear away the river bed

afforestation

Planting of trees

attrition(form of erosion)

Pebbles collide (bash into each other) and become smaller and smoother

channel straightening

Removing meanders from a river to make a river straighter. Straightening a river allows it to carry more water quickly downstream, so it doesn’t build up and is less likely to flood

confluence

Where two rivers meet

cross profile

A sideways view of a river channel

dam and reservoir

A dam is a barrier which holds back water, where it is stored as a reservoir

deposition

The material carried by the river is dropped

discharge

The quantity of water that passes a given point on a stream or river bank within a given period

embankments

A raised man-made river bank

estuary

An area of tidal water just before the river mouth

flood plain

A flat area either side of a river which floods when a river overflows

flood plain zoning

Land that is near the river and often floods is not built on. This could be used for pastoral farming, playing fields etc. The areas that rarely get flooded would therefore be used for houses, transport and industry

fluvial processes

Processes relating to erosion, transport and deposition by a river

gorge

A narrow, steep sided valley, often formed as a waterfall retreats upstream

groundwater

Water stored underground

hard engineering

Man-made structures that try to control natural processes e.g. dams

hydraulic action(form of erosion)

The force of the river against the banks can cause air to be trapped in cracks and crevices. The pressure weakens the banks and gradually wears it away

hydrograph

A graph which shows the discharge of a river, related to rainfall, over a period of time

impermeable

Water cannot infiltrate (soak into)

infiltration

Water soaking into the soil

interception

Trees catch water on their branches and trees

interlocking spurs

A series of ridges projecting out on alternate sides of a valley and around which a river winds its course

lag time

The time between peak rainfall (highest) and peak discharge (most water) in the river

lateral erosion

Sideways erosion by a river on the outside of a meander channel. It eventually leads to the widening of the valley and contributes to the formation of the flood plain

levees

A naturally forming, raised bank next to a river formed where heavier material is deposited when the river floods

lowland areas

Areas that are near or at sea level, there are no large hills or mountains.

long profile

The gradient of a river, from its source (start) to its mouth (where it meets the sea)

meander

A bend in the river

mouth

Where the river flows into a sea/lake

oxbow lake

A lake which has separated from a meander

permeable

Allowing water to soak through.

precipitation

Any moisture falling from the sky e.g. rain, snow

relief

The shape and height of the land

saltation(form of transportation)

Small rocks and pebbles bounce along the riverbed

saturation

The ground is full of water

soft engineering

Methods that work with natural processes e.g. flood plain zoning. Soft engineering is usually much cheaper and offers a more sustainable option as it does not interfere directly with the river’s flow

solution(form of erosion and transportation)

A chemical reaction that dissolves rocks in the river(e.g. limestone and water)

Material is dissolved in the water and are carried along the river.

source

The point at which the river starts, often found on high ground

sustainable

Meets the needs of people now and future generations.  It must be good socially, economically and environmentally

surface runoff

Water running over the surface of the ground

suspension(form of transportation)

When small particles(sediments) are carried along by a river, giving the water a muddy appearance

throughflow

The movement of water through the soil

traction(form of transportation)

Large, heavy boulders and rocks rolls along the riverbed

transpiration

The process by which plants lose water vapour through their leaves, strong winds increase transpiration

transportation

Movement of material by the river

tributary

A smaller river that flows into a larger river

upland

Areas higher above sea level – hills and mountains

vertical erosion

Erosion downwards, making a river/valley deeper

waterfall

Where a river/stream falls over a cliff

weathering

The breaking down of rock. Three types, freeze-thaw, chemical, biological

delta

landforms that are created by the deposition of sediment that is carried by a river

occurs when rivers slow down the sediments get accumulated and usually occur by the mouth of a river