interception
when vegetation catches water
infiltration
when water moves from the surface into the soil
percolation
when water moves from soil to the rock
surface run-off
when water flows over the soil
through flow
when water flows through the soil
groundwater flow
when water flows through the rock
long profile
the changes in the rivers height above sea level
cross profile
a view of the whole river valley
abrasion
rocks scraping against the river
saltation
pebbles bounce along the river bed
attrition
rocks knock against eachother
vertical erosion
water erodes downwards
lateral erosion
water erodes side to side
solution
water dissolves specific rocks
hydraulic action
the force of water erodes coastline
meander
a bend in the river
ox-bow lake
a lake formed at the side of the river
floodplain
flat area either side of the river
levee
a raised area built overtime either side of the river
estuary
were salt and freshwater mix
hydrograph
graph showing the water levels in the river
flashy hydrograph
short lag time and high peak discharge
subdued hydrograph
long lag time and low peak discharge
soft engineering
natural environment is used to reduce flooding
hard engineering
building structures to prevent flooding
drainage basin
area of land around the river
mouth
where the river meets the sea
watershed
the end of the drainage basin
confluence
where two rivers join together
tributary
a stream which joins onto a river
source
where a river starts