Geography year 9- rivers

just started gcse topics making flashcards as i go through lessons after each lesson make flashcards on the notes you made

what is a river?

a river is a flow of water across the surface of land within a defined channel that has a bed and banks

what is a drainage basin?

a drainage basin is the area drained by a river and its tributaries into a common outlet such as a lake or ocean.

what is a watershed?

the edge of highland surrounding a drainage basin that separates two drainage basins

what is the source?

The source is the original point where a river begins, often located in highland or mountainous areas, from which water flows downward.

what is the confluence?

The confluence is the point where two or more rivers or streams meet and flow together into a single channel.

what is a tributary?

A tributary is a smaller river or stream that flows into a larger river or lake.

what is a mouth?

the mouth is the point when the river comes to an end, typically where it flows into a larger body of water, such as an ocean, sea, or lake.

how long is the river Severn and what’s special about it?

The River Severn is approximately 354 kilometers long and is the longest river in the United Kingdom.

Tell me about Severn’s discharge/volume and where it reaches 103 cumecs?

It has the biggest UK discharge/volume, reaching 107 cumecs near Gloucester.

Where is Severn located?

It is located partly in Wales as well as England

Where is Severn’s source?

Its source is on the Cambrian Mountains, specifically on the Plynlimon Hills.

Where is Severn’s mouth?

Its mouth is the Bristol Channel.

what is the long profile of a river?

The long profile of a river is a graphical representation that shows the change in elevation from the source to the mouth of the river.

what is the cross profile of a river?

The cross profile of a river illustrates the shape and dimensions of a river channel and its valley at a specific point, showing features such as meanders, flood plains, and oxbow lake.

what is the channel cross section of a river?

The channel cross section of a river represents the width and depth of the river channel at a specific location.

what is the upper course of a river?

The upper course of a river is the section where the river begins, typically characterized by steep gradients, narrow valleys, and features such as waterfalls and rapid flow.

what is the middle course of a river?

The middle course of a river is the section where the river carries more sediment and has a gentler gradient, often featuring wider valleys and meanders.

What is the lower course of a river?

The lower course of a river is the final section before it reaches the mouth, characterized by flat terrain, meandering paths, and sediment deposition

what is river discharge and does is increase or decrease?

River discharge is the volume and speed of water flowing through a river at a given point over time, typically increasing downstream due to runoff and tributary contributions.

what is channel width and does is increase or decrease?

Channel width refers to the distance across the river from bank to bank, which generally increases downstream due to increasing volume and flow of water.

what is channel width and does is increase or decrease?

It measures the distance between the riverbanks, typically expanding downstream as water volume increases.

what is channel depth and does is increase or decrease?

Channel depth measures the vertical distance from the water surface to the riverbed, typically increasing downstream due to more accumulated water flow.

what is velocity and does is increase or decrease?

Velocity refers to the speed of the river's flow, which generally increases downstream as the channel narrows and steepens, enhancing water movement.

what is sediment load and volume and does is increase or decrease?

Sediment load refers to the amount of solid material carried by the river, while volume indicates the total quantity of sediment present. It generally increases downstream as the river erodes its banks and transports more materials.

what is sediment particle size and doe sit increase or decrease?

Sediment particle size refers to the dimensions of individual particles in sediment. Particle size generally decreases with increasing distance from the source due to sorting by water flow.

what is channel bed roughness and doe sit increase or decrease?

Channel bed roughness refers to the irregularities and variations in the surface texture of a riverbed. It generally decreases downstream as sediment smooths out the bed surface.

what is the gradient and does it increase or decrease?

Gradient refers to the slope or steepness of the river channel. It generally decreases downstream as the river flows toward flatter terrain.

What geological characteristics are found in the upper course of the River Severn?

The upper course features hard, impermeable shales and grits.

What is the climate like in the upper course of the River Severn?

The upper course experiences high rainfall, exceeding 2500 mm annually, resulting in substantial runoff.

What type of erosion dominates in the upper course of the River Severn?

The river primarily undergoes vertical erosion, creating a V-shaped valley with steep sides.

What landforms are created in the upper course of the River Severn due to erosion?

Vertical erosion leads to the formation of a V-shaped valley.

What geological features are present in the middle course of the River Severn?

In the middle course, the geology includes softer, more permeable rocks like sandstones, conglomerates, and marls.

How does the climate change in the middle course of the River Severn?

The average annual rainfall decreases to under 700 mm in the middle course.

What type of erosion is significant in the middle course of the River Severn?

Lateral erosion becomes significant, widening the river valley.

What landforms are formed in the middle course of the River Severn due to erosion and deposition?

Floodplains and meanders develop from lateral erosion and sediment deposition.

What geological features characterize the lower course of the River Severn?

The lower course primarily consists of soft mudstones and alluvium.

How wide is the River Severn at its lower course near Tewkesbury, and what does this imply for flow?

The channel is 70 metres wide, resulting in increased velocity due to lower friction.

What role do tributaries play in the lower course of the River Severn?

Tributaries increase the river's discharge and enhance sediment load, leading to deposition.

What deposition occurs at the river mouth of the lower course due to the river's characteristics?

High sediment load results in deposition at the river mouth as flow is slowed by the sea.

what is the difference between vertical and lateral erosion?

Vertical erosion deepens a river's channel and forms V-shaped valleys in the upper course, while lateral erosion widens the river channel and creates meanders in the middle and lower courses.

what is a v-shaped valley?

a v-shaped valley has steep sides and a narrow bottom caused by vertical erosion and represents a ‘v’ in the river channel shape

what are interlocking spurs?

protruding ridges of more resistant rock

what should you use instead of hard/soft rock?

Use the terms resistant and less resistant rock.

what is the difference between truncated and interlocking spurs?

Truncated spurs are formed when a glacier cuts through a spur, creating a steep face and a flat area behind it, while interlocking spurs are formed as the river navigates around resistant rocks, resulting in spurs that protrude outwards in a zigzag pattern. The key difference lies in the erosion process and resulting shapes.

How are V-shaped valleys and interlocking spurs formed in the upper course of a river?

Loosened material slowly creeps down the slope due to gravity or is washed into the river by rainwater, steepening the valley sides. The rocks that fall into the river contribute to abrasion, leading to further erosion. As the river erodes downwards, the steep valley sides are subjected to freeze-thaw weathering, breaking up and loosening the soil and rock. The river's vertical erosion occurs as boulders, stones, and rock particles are bounced and scraped along the channel bed (abrasion). As the river flows around areas of more resistant rock, it creates interlocking spurs. The end result is a steep-sided valley with a 'V' shape