Theme 2

Rivers
Tier 3 words: Hydrological, precipitation, interception, infiltration, percolation, surface runoff,
groundwater flow, throughflow, drainage basin, tributary, confluence, watershed, source,
mouth, flood hydrograph, river regime, flood, Hydraulic action, abrasion, attrition, solution,
traction, suspension, saltation, erosion, transportation, deposition, weathering, mass
movement, landslide, soil creep, Bradshaw model, long profile, cross profile, rapids, interlocking
spurs, waterfalls, gorge, v-shaped valley, meanders, oxbow lakes, levees, floodplain, delta,
upper course, middle course, lower course, transboundary, alluvium, hard/soft engineering,

Essential Rivers Diagrams/graphs

1. Location of the Earth’s water
2. The hydrological cycle 4
3. The drainage Basin
4. A storm hydrograph - A graph to show precipitation and discharge levels of
a river following a storm event.
5. A river regime - The yearly discharge of a river (It can also be a line graph!)

Make sure you:

1. Know the key stats
2. Know the key words links to the stores, flows and outputs of this cycle
3. Know the key features of the drainage basin e.g. Source/mouth
4. Can draw a flood hydrograph and analyse its features e.g. subdued or flashy
hydrograph
5. Can analyse a river regime to consider the annual fluctuations in river 2
discharge e.g. seasonal changes

1
5

Long and Cross Profiles

● Long profile shows changes from source to mouth.
● The Bradshaw model can be used to theorise downstream changes.
● Cross profiles show a side view of the river. From upstream to
downstream the cross profile gets wider and deeper.

Hazards and Opportunities of rivers

● Opportunities - Biodiversity, fertile soil due to floods/alluvium, tourism,
Industry, Infrastructure due to flat land/floodplains, agriculture
● Hazards - Water pollution (Industrial, domestic, agricultural), flooding,
erosion,
 Fluvial Process Description Landforms
There are lots of landforms you need to know about. Diagrams of
Erosion The wearing away of sediment and rock. a selection are below. Make sure you can:
P - Process of erosion/deposition
Transportation The movement of sediment from upstream to K - Knowledge (Upper/middle or lower, specific fluvial processes
downstream. involved)
S - Sequence (firstly,..then...finally,...)
Deposition The dropping of the rivers sediment when it N - Named Example
loses energy. D - Diagram

Weathering The breaking down of rock on the rivers valley 1. Waterfall (Upper Course)
sides. 2. Oxbow Lakes (Middle/Lower Course)
3. Floodplains and Levees (Middle/Lower Course)
Hydraulic Action The force of the river against the banks can
cause air to be trapped in cracks and
crevices. The pressure weakens the banks
and gradually wears it away.
1
E
R Abrasion The force of the water in the river carrying
O stones and other materials grinds the
S bedload like a piece of sandpaper.
I
O Attrition Rocks being carried by the river smash
N together and break into smaller, smoother
and rounder particles.

Solution/Corrosion Soluble particles are dissolved by weak acids

in the water.

T Saltation Small pebbles and stones are bounced along

R the river bed.
A
N
Traction Large boulders and rocks are rolled along the
S
river bed. 2
P
O
R Solution Minerals are dissolved in the water and
T carried along in solution (in the water).
A
T
I Suspension Fine light material is carried along in the flow
O of the water. 3
N

W Chemical Chemicals in rainwater making changes to

E the minerals in a rock.
A
T Biological Breaking down of rocks due to the
H movements of plants and animals
E
R
I Mechanical/Physical Physical processes affect the rock, such as
N changes in temperature or when the rock is
G exposed to the effects of wind, rain and Flooding
waves. Causes:
● High levels of precipitation
Mass Movement The movement of rocks that have been ● Saturated soils
weathered away on the valley sides down the ● Steep relief
slope due to gravity, e.g. landslides or soil ● Non porous rocks (Geology)
creep. ● Low levels of vegetation (lack of interception) /
Deforestation
● Circular drainage basin
Case Studies: ● Urbanisation
● More extreme weather due to climate change
River Management - The Yangtze River, China
Management
Fluvial Opportunities - The River Nile, Egypt Hard engineering- A technique involving construction and
technology to manage a river. E.g. Flood walls, Dams and
Flooding - The Han River, South Korea reservoirs.
Water Quality - The Yangtze River, China Soft Engineering - A technique involving an environmentally
friendly, solution which works alongside natural processes. E.g.
Make sure you have key facts from these case studies that you Afforestation, flood plain zoning.
can work into your 7 marker answers. Make sure you can consider stakeholder conflicts over
management techniques.