WorksheetsRiver Landscapes AQA
Total questions: 27
Worksheet time: 17mins
What is a river drainage basin?
The point in which 2 rivers meet.
A smaller river which enters a larger river.
The boundary between to drainage basins.
The start of a river.
The area of land drained by a river and its tributaries.
A river can be divided into different sections, and in each section there are different characteristics. But, how many sections do we typically divide rivers into?
2 - Upper and Lower
3 - Upper, Middle, and Lower
4 - Upper, Upper-Middle, Lower-Middle, Lower
What type of features do you find in the upper course? Select all correct answers.
Waterfalls
Floodplains
Meanders
Ox-bow lakes
interlocking spurs
What type of features do you find in the lower course? Select all correct answers.
levees
Floodplains
Meanders
Ox-bow lakes
interlocking spurs
What are the characteristics of the upper course of a river? Tick all relevant answers.
Narrow channel
Large rocks and boulders
Shallow
Deep
wide
What are the characteristics of the lower course?
Wider channel
Deeper
Finer rocks, pebbles and sediment.
Lower velocity compared to the upper course
Low discharge
What is the gradient typically like in the upper course?
Steep
Shallow
Flat
Vertical erosion is the downward erosion caused by a river, while lateral erosion is when a river erodes the river channel sideways. But, where is vertical erosion more dominant?
Upper course, where the river gradient is steeper.
Lower course, where river gradient is shallow.
Middle course, where the river gradient is gentle.
How does the cross-profile of a river change from the upper to the lower course?
The cross-profile of a river becomes wider and deeper.
The cross-profile becomes narrower and shallower.
The cross-profile remains the same.
There are 4 types of erosion that happen inside a river. Match the following definition to the correct type of erosion - rocks carried by the river rub and scrape against the bed and the banks wearing them down.
Hydraulic action
Abrasion
Attrition
Solution
There are 4 types of erosion that happen inside a river. Match the following definition to the correct type of erosion - the force of water has the power erode, water also compresses air in cracks in river banks which increases pressure.
Hydraulic action
Abrasion
Attrition
Solution
There are 4 types of erosion that happen inside a river. Match the following definition to the correct type of erosion - rocks carried by the river collide with each other, wearing each other down.
Hydraulic action
Abrasion
Attrition
Solution
There are 4 types of transportation that happen inside a river. Match the following definition to the correct type of erosion - Large boulders are rolled along the bed.
Traction
Suspension
Saltation
Solution
There are 4 types of transportation that happen inside a river. Match the following definition to the correct type of erosion - smaller rocks bounce along the river bed.
Traction
Suspension
Saltation
Solution
Which of the following river features are formed as a result of erosion? Select all the correct answers.
Waterfalls
Gorges
Levees
Slip-off slope
River cliff on the outside bend of a meander
What key characteristic is required for waterfalls to form?
Rocks of varying hardness and density.
Rocks of the same hardness and density
The image shows the cross-profile of a river feature, but which river feature?
Levee
Interlocking spur
Meander
V-shaped valley
The image below shows how one river feature begins to develop. But, what river feature will develop overtime.
Levee
Estuary
Gorge
Ox-bow lake
In which 3 ways does water reach a river once on land.
Surface run-off
Transpiration
Through-flow
Groundwater flow
Interception
What are the physical reasons for flooding?
Urbanisation
Impermeable geology
Small drainage basin
Prolonged rainfall
Deforestation
Which of the following are human reasons for increased risk of flooding?
Urbanisation
Deforestation
Afforestation
Changes in farming practices
Steep valleys
The following image shows a hydrograph, but what factors would increase the lag-time (the difference between peak rainfall and peak discharge)? Tick all relevant answers.
More vegetation cover in a drainage basin.
Increased urbanisation.
Deforestation.
Permeable geology.
Saturated soil.
Hard engineering involves the use of artificial structures which physically alter the river channel to protect areas from flooding, but which of the following are examples of hard engineering?
Dams and reserviors
Flood relief channels
Tree-planting
Flood-plain zoning
Embankments
Soft engineering involves adapting and working with natural river processes, but which of the following are examples of soft engineering?
Flood warnings
Flood relief channels
Tree-planting
Flood-plain zoning
Creation of wetlands / washlands (flood storage areas)
What are the advantages of hard engineering strategies such as flood relief channels?
Reduced flood risk for immediate area which has been protected.
Works with natural processes therefore is more sustainable.
Increased flood risk downstream.
House values in protected area increased
Some flood relief channels are built to look natural and have meanders and reed beds.
What are the advantages of planting trees as a soft approach to manage rivers?
Increased interception
Reduced surface-runoff
Expensive
Creates new wildlife habitats.
Loss of grazing land for animals.
Which of the following statements is true about the River Jubilee?
It is a flood relief channel consisting of multiple weirs (dams).
It was built in 2002, costing £110 million
The channel protects 3000 properties in Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton as well as major roads.
The channel increases risk of flooding where the River Jubilee merges with the Thames again downstream.
