Mass Movement, Rivers, and Erosion/Deposition Systems

Front

What determines the size of sediments that can be carried by a river?

Back

Water velocity determines the size of sediments that can be carried by a river.

Front

Why does the streambank on the inside of a meander have a gentler slope?

Back

The water on the inside of the meander is moving slower, causing deposition.

Front

What is the term for the entire area of land that drains into a body of water?

Back

Watershed.

Front

What geological characteristic is typical of a river with many meanders?

Back

It typically exists on a landscape that is geologically old.

Front

Why do particles carried by a river settle to the bottom as it enters the ocean?

Back

The velocity of the river water decreases as it enters the ocean.

Front

What is erosion?

Back

Erosion is the process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth's surface by natural processes such as wind or water flow.

Front

What is deposition?

Back

Deposition is the process by which sediments, soil, and rocks are added to a landform or land mass.

Front

What is a floodplain?

Back

A floodplain is an area of land adjacent to a river that is subject to flooding.

Front

What is a delta?

Back

A delta is a landform that forms at the mouth of a river, where it meets a body of water, and sediments are deposited.

Front

What is a tributary?

Back

A tributary is a river or stream that flows into a larger river or lake.