River landscapes

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