Rivers and processes

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Created by: jack1506
Created on: 27-03-14 06:47

What is the Water Balance?

Precipitation = evaporation + Transpiration + river flow +/- storage

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What is a drainage basin?

A drainage basin is an area drained by a river and its tributaries.

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What is river discharge?

river discharge is the volume of water that flows into a channel over a set period of time.

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Describe what a storm hydrograph is?

s storm hydrograph is a graph that measures the response of discharge over a river due to a period of precipitation.

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What flow is describe to flow like a corkscrew in a meander?

Helical Flow

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What is the line of fastest flow in a river known as?

The Thalweg

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How does braiding occur?

Braiding occurs due to the deposition of sediment within the channel. Creating tiny islands in between the different channels of the river.

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What is the Hydraulic Radius?

The Hydraulic Radius is the ratio oft he cross-sectional area of a channel to its wetted perimeter.

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What is wetted perimeter?

wetted perimeter is the length of the channel bed and banks.

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Describe what a meander is?

A wave-like river that is formed by depositional and erosional processes.

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Where are meanders and incised meanders located?

Meanders and incised meanders tend to be in the middle and lower course of a river.

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Where do potholes occur in the course of a river?

potholes occur in the upper course of a river.

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Where do gorges and waterfalls occur in the course of a river?

They occur in the upper course of a river.

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Name two ways in which a river can become rejuvenated.

An increase in discharge. And also a change in the rivers base levels.

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Name two human causes of flooding; then expalin certain ways that thsi affects the river.

The use of land for settlements; use of deforestation and land drainage. Another way that humans cause flooding is due to siltation of channels; like soil erosion.

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Name at least 2 physical causes of flooding. Then explain how they cause flooding.

Heavy precipitation; high-intensity precipitation associated with thunderstorms and storms cause flash floods. Snowmelt; sudden thaws may melt high amounts of left over snow.

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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

A drainage basin is an area drained by a river and its tributaries.

Back

What is a drainage basin?

Card 3

Front

river discharge is the volume of water that flows into a channel over a set period of time.

Back

Card 4

Front

s storm hydrograph is a graph that measures the response of discharge over a river due to a period of precipitation.

Back

Card 5

Front

Helical Flow

Back

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Rivers and processes