Geography Terms - Rivers

Front 1

Rock particles that are picked up and transported during erosion will ultimately be deposited somewhere else.

Back 1

Deposition

Front 2

When a river meets the sea its velocity suddenly reduces. This reduction in velocity means that much of the rivers load is deposited at the mouth of the river. If the river deposits quicker than the sea can erode then a delta starts to develop.

Back 2

Delta

Front 3

A bend in the river.

Back 3

Meander

Front 4

The areas of land that rivers flood onto when they exceed bank full discharge. They are created by the constant movement of meanders.

Back 4

Floodplains

Front 5

Water and air getting into cracks in a rivers banks and bed causing erosion, through increased pressure.

Back 5

Hydraulic Action

Front 6

The process of a rivers' load crashing and rubbing into a rivers' banks and bed causing pieces to break off.

Back 6

Corrasion (Abrasion)

Front 7

The process of water dissolving a rivers' load as well as its bed and banks.

Back 7

Corrosion (Solution)

Front 8

Load crashing into each other in a river. This normally happens with suspended load.

Back 8

Attrition

Front 9

The process of large pieces of load rolling along a river bed.

Back 9

Traction

Front 10

The process of load bouncing a long a river bed.

Back 10

Saltation

Front 11

The process of smaller pieces of load being carried in a rivers flow.

Back 11

Suspension

Front 12

The process of dissolved pieces of material being transported in a solution.

Back 12

Solution

Front 13

When material is transported on the surface of the river.

Back 13

Flotation

Front 14

Upper Course

Back 14

Waterfalls
Rapids
Gorges
V-shaped Valleys
Interlocking Spurs

Front 15

Middle Course

Back 15

Meander
Oxbow Lakes
Levees
Braided Rivers

Front 16

Lower Course

Back 16

Deltas
Oxbow Lakes
Meanders
Floodplains

Front 17

A deep sided valley left behind when a waterfall retreats.

Back 17

Gorge

Front 18

The areas of the valley (hills) that stick out into the river forcing it to meander around them.

Back 18

Interlocking Spurs

Front 19

Are created when two meanders connect.

Back 19

Oxbow lakes

Front 20

Braided rivers usually occur on rivers with variable flow. When the river flow is high the river has excess energy and can transport large amounts of load. However, when the flow is low, the river is forced to deposit its load. The deposited material forces the reducing flow into small channels creating a braided river.

Back 20

Braided Rivers

Front 21

When a river floods the velocity of the river travelling over the flooded floodplain suddenly falls. Because of the fall in velocity (and subsequent reduction in surplus energy) the river immediately deposits its largest load creating embankments that line the river channel. Over time (and after many flood events) these embankments begin to grow in size and become more stable.

Back 21

Levees

Front 22

Holes found in the river bed. Load carried by the river is washed around in a circular motion causing vertical erosion.

Back 22

Potholes

Front 23

The long profile is the course the river takes from its source to its mouth. The long profile is often split into upper course and lower course (and sometimes middle course as well)

Back 23

Long Profile

Front 24

A surface or shape that is or would be exposed by making a straight cut through a river.

Back 24

Cross Section

Front 25

How are V-shaped valleys formed?

Back 25

The river will erode (cut) downwards while the sides are weathered (attacked by the weather e.g. rain, wind and the sun). The weathered material will then fall into the river and be transported away leaving a v-shaped valley.