RiversLocation

Profiles

Processes

Landforms

2

5

10

1

47

5

9

28

6

3

1

3

4

67

89

10

Thames

Spey

Clyde

Shannon

Tees

Ouse

Tay

Severn

Trent

Forth

Main UK Rivers

2

5

Upper Course Middle Course Lower Course

Steep ground

Fast flow

Erosion

V-shaped valley

Waterfall

Moderate ground

Moderate flow

Transportation

Small meander

Small floodplain

Gentle ground

Gentle flow

Deposition

Large meander

Large floodplain

Oxbow lake

Classic River Profile

River ProfileSource

Mouth + Delta

River Processes - Transportation

Now Watch The Flash Presentation

On River Transportation

River transpotation processes.swf

River Processes - Transportation

Process   Description

Saltation   Force of water drags or rolls rocks along river bed.

 

Traction   Dissolved material is carried along in the water.

 

Suspension   Pebbles are picked up and bounced along the river bed by flowing water.

Solution   Very light clays are held up in the water as it flows.

 

River Processes - Erosion

Abrasion/Corrasion

Hydraulic Action

Corrosion

Attrition

Force of water hitting off river banks causes them to wear down.

Stones carried by river hit into river bed and bank, eroding & scraping them.

Stones collide into each other knocking edges off – get smaller and rounder.

Rocks dissolve in water e.g. limestone

Landforms Of The Upper Course

V-shaped Valleys

Waterfalls

V-shaped Valley

River Gradient

River Speed

Erosion

1 As the river flows it erodes downwards initially, due to the

great energy it has. This happens mainly because of the process of

corrasion (explain in detail for in exam!)

2 The river therefore forms a deep and steep sided channel. Over

time freeze thaw (again explain) weathering acts upon the

riverbank. This loosens the rock and soil.

3 As the rock & soil from the river bank breaks up, it is

transported to the river by to gravity and the wash effect of

rain on the soil.

4 The eroded material that falls into the river is then transported downstream by the river and is

deposited on its bed or on a river beach.

1

3

2

4

1

2

3

4

River erodes downwards due to fast flowing water carrying stones.

A deep/steep sided channel forms & weathering loosens soil on the banksRock & soil from river bank breaks up, falls into river due to gravity & rainEroded material transported downstream and deposited on river

bed.

Waterfall

River Gradient

River Speed

Erosion

Waterfall

Now Watch The Two Flash Presentations

On Waterfall Development

Waterfall Development.swf

Waterfall

Now Watch The Second Flash Presentation

On Waterfall/Gorge Development

Waterfall To Gorge Development.swf

Waterfall- Diagram

E

F

C

B

DA

A =

B =

C =

D =

F =

E =

Hard Rock

Swirling Rock

Soft Rock

Unsupported Rock

Plunge Pool

Undercutting

Waterfall

A waterfall is formed when a river flows over a layer of ______ rock, which

is lying over a layer of soft rock. The _____ rock erodes more quickly. The

hard rock sticks out forming a _____ in the river, which is a waterfall. The

soft rock at the bottom of the waterfall/cliff is then eroded further to form a

____________ pool. This pool becomes bigger and ____________ as

water swirls broken rock around. The hard rock is left unsupported and so

eventually ______________. Over a long period of time the waterfall

retreats backwards forming a narrow and steep sided valley called a

_______. You will gain marks for describing either how the erosion occurs

e.g. Hydraulic Action & __________.

gorge ~ soft ~ abrasion ~ collapses ~ cliff ~ deeper ~ plunge ~ hard

hard

soft

cliff

plunge deeper

collapses

gorge

abrasion

Landforms Of The Middle & Lower Course

Meander

Oxbow Lake

Floodplain

Meanders ~ Bends In Rivers

Meanders

Inner Bend Outer Bend Slow Flow Fast Flow Low Energy High Energy

Small Rocks Large Rocks Deposition Erosion Shallow Water Deep Water

River Beach River Cliff

Fastest current slowest current

Outer bankIs undercut

( river beach )Deposition ofSand and shingle

Deepest part of the river

Bank willcollapse

Small rivercliff

Meander - River bend

Meanders - Sequence Exercise

Paragraph 1

Outer bend ~ fast flow ~ high energy ~ large rocks ~ erosion ~ deep water ~

river cliff.

Paragraph 2

Inner bend ~ slow flow ~ low energy ~ small rocks ~ deposition ~ shallow water

~ river beach

Use your cross section diagram and the words in the same order as below to write 2 paragraphs explaining how meanders form.

Formation of a Meander

Alluvium river cliffs greatest speed deposition

erosion loss of energy meanders

The course of a river usually has many bends in it. These are

called___________. The _____________of water is on the

outside of the bend where _________takes place and the

channel is worn away to make___________The water flows

more slowly round the inside of the bend. This causes

__________________ and _________________ when the river

overflows its banks it deposits material called ______________ on the valley floor.

meanders greatest speed

erosion

river cliffs

loss of energy deposition

alluvium

Floodplain

Meander

Alluvium

Deep Water Shallow Water

ErosionDeposition

Blue - RiverGreen Valley

Floor

Brown Valley Sides

Oxbow Lakes

2

5

OX Bow Lake Development.swf

Oxbow Lakes

Oxbow Lakes

An oxbow lake starts to form when large meanders develop close

together (A). As their outer bends erode more, there

is only a small piece of land

remaining between them, called a neck

(B).

Large Meanders

Neck

Outer Bend

Eventually the river erodes through the neck of the

meander and makes a new straighter river channel (C). The river now flows down this channel and

deposits material blocking up the old channel.

Straighter Channel

Deposition Old Channel

This leaves an oxbow lake in the old river channel

and without a supply of water the lake

can dry up (D). The lake may reform

when there is heavy rain or flooding.

Oxbow Lake

Floodplain

Flat Land

Meander Sketch

Flat Land

Floodplain

Floodplain

A A

B C D

EF F

A =

B =

C =

D =

E =

F =

Bluff Line

Layers Of Alluvium

River Bed Level Rises With Increased Deposition

Small Particles Deposited Away From River

Larger Particles Deposited Close To River

Levee

A floodplain is a flat area of land either side of a river, which floods regularly. The widest examples are found in the middle and lower course.

Floodplain

The river valley gets wider as meanders continue to grow, eroding back the sides of the valley.

The flat valley that forms is called a floodplain and develops as alluvium (mud/silt) sediment is deposited after a flood. The smallest particles are found at the edge of the floodplain and the largest particles nearest to the river. The largest particles by the river bank form a mini ridge called a levee, which runs parallel with the river.