How do river landforms in the upper course of a

river form?

Which images have been taken in the upper course of the river?

11 22 33 44

55

66 77 88

99

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river disappears from view hidden by this spur of land

River Conwy

(near Mignant Moor)

Landforms in the upper course

V-shaped valleys and interlocking spursRapidsWaterfalls

Interlocking spurs in a V-shaped valley

Techniques! – 1. Field sketching….

Produce an annotated fieldsketch to show that this is part of an upland river valley.

The formation of a V shaped valley and interlocking spurs

The river high above its _____ level has lots of potential _____. It tries to reach its base level by _____ downwards – _____ erosion.

As the river cuts down, weathering attacks the _____ sides. This breaks up and loosens the _____ and _____.

The loosened material creeps down the _____ because of _____, or is washed into the river by _____ (slope transport). The _____ carries it away.

The river _____ downwards as the load (_____, _____ and _____ particles) are bounced and scraped along the channel _____.

The result is a _____ sided _____ that has the shape of a “__”. In this valley the river is forced to _____ its way around protruding _____ – these are called _______ spurs.

Missing words: hillside; valley; slope; river; base; energy; interlocking; V; wind; vertical; soil; steep; steep; rock; rock; stones; gravity; eroding; erodes; boulders; rainwater; bed

Missing words: hillside; valley; slope; river; base; energy; interlocking; V; wind; vertical; soil; steep; steep; rock; rock; stones; gravity; eroding; erodes; boulders; rainwater; bed

The formation of a V shaped valley and interlocking spurs

The river high above its base level has lots of potential energy. It tries to reach its base level by eroding downwards – vertical erosion.

As the river cuts down, weathering attacks the steep sides. This breaks up and loosens the soil and rock.

The loosened material creeps down the slope because of gravity, or is washed into the river by rainwater (slope transport). The river carries it away.

The river erodes downwards as the load (boulders, stones and rock particles) are bounced and scraped along the channel bed.

The result is a steep sided valley that has the shape of a “V”. In this valley the river is forced to wind its way around protruding hillsides – these are called interlocking spurs.

River valleys – examination questionsIdentify v-shaped valleys and spurs of land.

Examination question

X

Y

Study the map of a river valley below:

Sketch a cross-section of the river valley from X to Y.

Label two features of this river valley.

State at what stage of a river’s course you would expect to find this type of valley. Give reasons for your answer.

Height (m)

X Y

Definition: A representation of a vertical section across and through a landscape or landscape feature, e.g. a cross-valley profile. It is used to show what an area looks like between two points.

What is a cross-section?5 mins

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You might be asked to draw one or possibly add detail to an existing cross section, e.g. to label on human or natural features such as roads, rivers, buildings/sites, forests etc.

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A cross section from an OS map would look like this….

Step 1Put the edge of

the piece of paper along the line of section X

to Y

Step 2Mark on the paper the start and finish

points (X and Y)

Step 3Mark on the paper

where the contours cross the

edge

Step 4Put some of the

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Step 5Mark on the river

(blue line)

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Step 6Draw some axes

ready to plot your cross section onto.

Remember you

will need to draw the vertical axis so

that you can include the

highest point.

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The horizontal axis should be the same length as X to Y on your piece of paper.

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Step 7Transfer the paper

to your cross section frame

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Step 8Plot the points

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Step 9Join the points

with a curved line

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Step 10Mark on the river

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Examination question

X

Y

Study the map of a river valley below:

Sketch a cross-section of the river valley from X to Y.

Label two features of this river valley.

State at what stage of a river’s course you would expect to find this type of valley. Give reasons for your answer.

Height (m)

X Y

River

Exam question• Study figure 1, which is a field sketch showing the upper

course of a river.a) Name two features from figure 1 to show that this is in the

river’s upper course (2 marks)b) Explain how these two features were formed (6 marks)

Figure 1

Exam question – mark schemeA. Name two features from figure 1 to show that this is in the river’s upper

course (2 marks)V-shaped valley (1 mark), Interlocking spurs (1 mark)B. Explain how these two features were formed (6 marks)L1 = 1-2 marks expect basic processes outlined with little/no key geographical

terminology usedL2 = 3-4 marks formation process explained but with some errors/omissions.

Some geographical terminology used.L3 = 5-6 marks process accurately and fully explained & key geographical

terminology used appropriately throughout.V- Shaped valley Idea of vertical erosion due to river being high above the base

level & having high energy. Subsequent weathering of steep valley sides & loose material transported by the river eroding vertically due to gravity.

Interlocking spurs idea that the already steep sided v-shaped valley is forced to wind its way around the protruding hillsides (usually areas of more resistant rock) created this feature.