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51 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
How are rivers able to sculpt landscapes? |
Through...
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Define: Erosion |
Physically picking up sediment. |
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Define: Transportation |
Moving the sediment. |
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Define: Deposition |
The settling of transported materials. |
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What does river velocity indicate? |
River energy.
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What may river energy be used for? |
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What type of energy do rivers have? |
Kinetic Energy
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Where do rivers ultimately derive their energy from? |
Note: Hydrologic Cycle
Note: First law of thermodynamics |
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Why changes in height above base level can occur:
Method 1/2
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Eustatic change is when the sea level changes due to an alteration in the volume of water in the oceans or, alternatively, a change in the shape of an ocean basin and hence a change in the amount of water the sea can hold. Eustatic change is always a global effect.
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Why changes in height above base level can occur:
Method 2/2
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Define: Isostatic Uplift |
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Define: Isostatic Depression |
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What is the main indicator of a river's ability to erode/transport/deposit? |
Its Velocity |
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For any given particle size...
A river flowing fast will...? |
Be able to erode |
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For any given particle size...
As a river slows down...? |
Active erosion seases and the river is able to transport particles of that size. |
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For any given particle size...
As a river slows down even more...? |
The river will have to start depositing those particles -- it no longer has enough energy either to erode or transport them. |
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As a particle size increases, what also increases? |
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Why are river erosion and channel shape related? |
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What are the three processes of river erosion? |
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Process of River Erosion
Define: Hydraulic Action |
Physical force of river
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Process of River Erosion
Define: Abrasion |
Pebbles, sand etc...
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Process of River Erosion
Define: Solution |
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Define: Drainage Basin |
The area that drains into a river.
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Define: Tributary |
A small river that joins a larger one.
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What are the processes of river transport? |
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What are the four processes of transportation? |
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Process of Transportation
Define: Traction |
Large particles (i.e. boulders) are pushed along the river bed by the force of the water. |
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Process of Transportation
Define: Saltation |
Pebble sized particles are bounced along the river bed by the force of water. |
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Process of Transportation
Define: Suspension |
Small particles (i.e. silt or clay) are carried along the water. |
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Process of Transportation
Define: Solution |
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The faster the river flows... |
...the more erosion that happens. |
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What is the river's load? |
The total material carried as the be load (traction and saltation) + Suspended Load (suspension) + Dissolved Load (solution)
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What does a rivers behavior depend on? |
The balance between its energy and its load. |
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What happens if a river does not have sufficient energy to transport its load? |
It will begin depositing material, and become braided. |
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Define: Braided Channels |
Numerous channels that split of and rejoin each other to give a braided appearance.
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What type of profiles do rivers typically have? |
Concave long profiles |
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What are the characteristics of upper, middle, and lower reaches or river long profiles? |
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Upper Reaches of River
What is the simplest way a waterfall forms? |
The presence of a resistant layer of rock.
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Upper Reaches of River VS Middle Reaches of River VS Lower Reaches of River |
Upper Reaches of River Characterized by: V-Shaped Valleys VS Middle Reaches of River Shaped by: Meander Bends VS Lower Reaches of River Characterized by: Delta |
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Middle Reaches of River
Define: Meander Bends |
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Middle Reaches of River
What are common features of the middle reach?
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Middle Reaches of River
When meander bends cut off, what do they form? |
Ox-Bow Lakes
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Middle Reaches of River
Define: Floodplain Formation and Features |
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Middle Reaches of River
What can changes in a river's potential energy (height above base level) do? |
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Middle Reaches of River
Define: Alluvial Terraces |
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Middle Reaches of River
Define: Entrenched Meanders |
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What are lower reaches of rivers characterized by?
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Deltas |
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Lower Reaches of River
Define: Deltas |
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Lower Reaches of River
What are the main types of Deltas? |
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Lower Reaches of River
Define: Arcuate Delta |
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Lower Reaches of River
Define: Bird's Foot Delta |
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