Rivers

Summary of Rivers for the G1 WJEC GCSE Geography Exam.

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  • Created by: Chris
  • Created on: 13-06-12 13:29

Forms of erosion

Hydraulic Action - The action of water against rock (water crashes into gaps in                                     the soil and rock, compressing the air and forcing particles                                       apart).

Abrasion - The action of rocks being picked up by the water and smashed                                 against the river banks

Attrition - The action of rocks being carried by the river and smashed into each                       other making them smaller more rounded.

Corrosion - Minerals (such as CaCO3) are dissolved in the river water.

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Transportation Processes

Solution - Soluble minerals (e.g. CaCO3) are dissolved in the river water and transported downstream.

Suspension - Small particulates (e.g. clay & silt) are carried downstream by slow flowing water.

Saltation - Sand and small gravel bounces and skips across the surface of the water on fast flowing rivers.

Traction - Larger gravel, cobbles and boulders roll along the river bed on high energy rivers (usually only occurs during a flood).

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River Meanders

- Erosion occurs on the outside of the river meander as that is where the river is flowing fastest.

- Deposition occurs on the inside of the river meander as that is where the river is flowing slowest.

- The river is deepest on the outside of the meander.

- Sediment is found on the inside of the meander where it is deposited.

(http://www.bradfieldarts.org.uk/images/river%20meander.png)

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Comments

Dominic berry

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omg, thnx so much 4 these notes, i needed help so badly for geography and these notes help me a lot. :)

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