Geography - Rivers And Flooding Key Terms 2

Front 1

Hydrograph

Back 1

A graph that shows the discharge of a river.

Front 2

Storm Flow

Back 2

When water reaches the river as a result of surface runoff.

Front 3

Rising Limb

Back 3

When the discharge of a river increases.

Front 4

Lag Time

Back 4

The period of time between the peak precipitation and the peak discharge.

Front 5

Falling Limb

Back 5

When the discharge of a river decreases.

Front 6

Bankfull Discharge

Back 6

The point in which the water level reaches the channels maximum.

Front 7

Drainage Density

Back 7

The number of surface streams in a given area.

Front 8

River Regime

Back 8

The annual variation in the discharge of a river.

Front 9

Antecedent Rainfall

Back 9

This is all of the rainfall that occurred before the main flood.

Front 10

Flashy Hydrograph

Back 10

When there is a sudden rise in the water level.

Front 11

Erosion

Back 11

The break up of rocks and soil in and around the river channel due to the action of moving water and solid particles.

Front 12

Transport

Back 12

The movement of solid particles from the site of erosion to the site of deposition.

Front 13

Deposition

Back 13

The laying down of solid particles and sediment on a riverbed or seabed.

Front 14

Attrition (Erosion)

Back 14

This is the collision of materials.

Front 15

Corrosion (Erosion)

Back 15

This is the dissolving of materials.

Front 16

Abrasion (Erosion)

Back 16

This is the rubbing of materials.

Front 17

Hydraulic Action (Erosion)

Back 17

This is the pressure of water filling into faults in the materials.

Front 18

Suspension (Transport)

Back 18

When fine, light material is carried along in the flow of water.

Front 19

Solution (Transport)

Back 19

When minerals in the water are dissolved.

Front 20

Traction (Transport)

Back 20

When larger river materials are rolled along the riverbed.

Front 21

Saltation (Transport)

Back 21

When smaller materials are bounced along the riverbed.

Front 22

Competent

Back 22

This is the maximum size (calibre) of a particle a river is capable of carrying.

Front 23

Topography

Back 23

This is the shape of the land.

Front 24

Bedload

Back 24

This is the larger materials that are subject to traction or saltation.

Front 25

Suspended Load

Back 25

This is when sediment is carried along the river.

Front 26

Dissolved Load

Back 26

This is when materials are held in solution.