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WorksheetsRiver processes and Pressures
Total questions: 43
Worksheet time: 22mins
What is the name of the whole area that is drained by the river?
mouth
source
Drainage basin
confluence
What is the name of small rivers that join the main river channel?
distributaries
tributaries
confluence
mouth
Name the point where tributaries (smaller rivers) join the main river channel
watershed
source
mouth
confluence
Name the edge of the drainage basin
mouth
confluence
watershed
tributary
Source is the starting point of the river, where usually is this?
sea / ocean
in the mountains
on high ground
sea level
Name the end point of a river
mouth
confluence
source
watershed
How many courses does a river have, and what order are they in?
3 - middle, upper, lower
3 - upper, middle and lower
3 - middle, lower and upper
What happens to the depth and width of a river as it moves towards the lower course?
narrower and shallower
narrower and deeper
wider and shallower
wider and deeper
Why does the river become wider and deeper as it moves towards the lower course?
In lower courses river has more energy so LESS vertical and lateral erosion takes place
In lower courses river has more energy so MORE vertical and lateral erosion takes place
Define the term gradient
how steep / flat the land is
rock type
What happens to the gradient as the river moves towards the mouth?
becomes steeper
becomes flatter
What happens to the velocity (speed) of the river as it moves towards the lower course?
becomes slower
becomes faster
Why does the river become faster in the lower course?
As discharge DECREASES, friction (slowing the velocity) INCREASES.
As discharge DECREASES, friction (slowing the velocity) DECREASES.
As discharge INCREASES, friction (slowing the velocity) DECREASES.
Define the term discharge
the amount of water in the river
the amount of sediment in the river
the speed of the river
the gradient of the river
Which course / stage is this river in, and how do you know this?
lower course - discharge is high
upper course - discharge is low
upper course - discharge high
upper course - gradient is high
Which course / stage is this river in, and how do you know that?
lower course - discharge low
upper course - gradient high
lower course - gradient low
lower course - discharge is high
Pressure of water pushed against cracks in the river bed / banks and wearing them away. What type of erosion is this?
corrosion / solution
attrition
abrasion
hydraulic action
Caused by material carried in the river rubbing against the bed and banks, wearing them away. What type of erosion is this?
hydraulic action
attrition
abrasion
corrosion / solution
River water is slightly acidic so it can dissolve some rocks and minerals in contact with the river. Limestone and chalk are most often affected. What type of erosion is this?
corrosion / solution
hydraulic action
abrasion
attrition
Wearing away of sediment particles carried in the river as they knock into one another. The continuation of this process causes the sediment particles to become rounder and smaller downstream. What type of erosion is this?
abrasion
hydraulic action
corrosion / solution
attrition
What type of transportation is this?
saltation
suspension
traction
solution
Some material carried is dissolved in the river water. What type of transportation is this?
traction
saltation
suspension
solution
Particles the size of grains of sand bounce over each other along the river bed. What type of transportation is this?
saltation
traction
suspension
solution
Select landforms you would find in the upper course of a river
Interlocking spurs
V - shaped valleys
meanders
waterfalls
What can a meander develop into over time?
waterfall
interlocking spurs
v shaped valley
ox bow lake
When an oxbow lake dried up, it becomes...?
meander plus 1
Oxbow scar
Oxbow lake
waterfall
Over time a waterfall can develop into a..?
interlocking spurs
v shaped valley
gorge
floodplain / levee
State the name given to the river's fastest flow
thalweg
slip off slope
river cliff
On the outside bend of a meander, the river flows the fastest because...
the water is very deep, giving the river MORE energy
the water is very deep, giving the river LESS energy
the water is very shallow, giving the river MORE energy
the water is very shallow, giving the river LESS energy
On the outside bend of a meander the river flows the fastest due to the depth of the water and due to erosion a _______ is created.
slip off slope
river cliff
On the inside bend of a meander the river flows the slowest due to the shallowness of the water and due to deposition a _______ is created.
slip off slope
river cliff
When a river floods, does it gain / lose energy?
gains
loses
Name this landform that is in the lower course
waterfall
levee
delta
interlocking spurs
A delta is formed when... ?
If the river erodes sediment faster than it can be deposited, sediment builds in a fan -shaped delta.
If the river deposits sediment faster than it can be eroded, sediment builds in a fan -shaped delta.
Which UK river have we studied?
Tyne
Tees
Thames
Severn
Which two urbanised areas does the River Severn flow through?
Newcastle and Durham
Shrewsbury and Tewesbury
How wide is the River Severn once it reaches Tewkesbury in the lower course?
7m by the time it reaches Tewkesbury
70m by the time it reaches Tewkesbury
17m by the time it reaches Tewkesbury
70,000m by the time it reaches Tewkesbury
Where is the source of the River Severn?
on the slopes of Pynlimon in France
on the slopes of Pynlimon in Wales
What type of graph is this?
line graph
bar chart
compound bar chart
storm hydrograph
What is the lag time?
how much rain falls
time it takes for the water to make its way into the river
the difference between the peak rainfall and the point at which the river contains the largest amount
how much water is in the river
Which physical factors can affect the lag time?
deforestation
urbanisation
rock type / soil type
amount of rainfall
Which human factors can affect the lag time?
deforestation
geology
urbanisation
amount of rainfall
Which factors contributed to the flooding of the River Severn in 2007 ?
urbanisation of areas such as Shrewsbury and Tewkesbury
more trees being planted around the river / afforestation
less discharge in the river
Summer of 2007 saw very high rainfall
