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How rivers change from source to mouth
Rivers change immensely on their journey from Source areas (where they start) to their finishing point at their mouths. There are 4 major concepts
here;
The drainage basin
The water cycle
The changing characteristics of rivers from the mountains
The changing valley shape
Tasks
The drainage basin
This is the area of land drained by a river system (a river and its tributaries). It includes the surface run-off in the water cycle, as well as the water
table. Drainage basins are separated by watersheds. A drainage basin is an example of an open system because it is open to inputs from outside, such
as precipitation, and is responsible for outputs out of the system, such as output of water into the sea and evaporation of water into the atmosphere.
You can see a diagram of the drainage basin below.
The water cycle
This is a series of processes by which water is evaporated from the sea and eventually condenses and precipitates over the land. It is the main input
to the drainage basin and you can read detailed notes on this process at the Met Office's website.
Changes in river variables/characteristics
There are many changes that occur in rivers as a result of changes within the water cycle and drainage basin. The diagram below summarises the
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changes that occur;
Velocity increases as more water is added to rivers via tributary rivers. This means that less of the water is in contact with the bed of the river and
the mouth so there is less energy used to overcome friction. Hence rivers flow progressively faster on their journey downstream.
Width and depth increases as more water is added from tributaries.
Gradient (the slope of the land) decreases as rivers flow because the river meanders across the land rather than erode into it and follow a straight
path as it does in the source. This means it covers a decrease in height over a longer distance the further downstream you get.
Stone size decreases downstream and the stones get rounder and smoother as rivers erode the rocks progressively as the stones are transported
downstream. The processes of river erosion operate here.
Hydraulic action - where the sheer force of the water erodes the stones, bed and banks of the river
Corrasion - where stone sin transport are thrown into the bed and the banks eroding them
Corrosion - where weak acids within the water react with the rocks and bed and bank of the river
Attrition - where stones in transport are thrown into one another
Changes in valley shape
The diagram on below shows the major changes downstream.
In the source area the drainage basin (an area of land drained by a river and its tributaries) contains V shaped valleys and waterfalls, and the
dominant processes are erosion. Erosion tends to be vertical (straight down into the land).
In the middle section of the drainage basin the river starts to erode laterally. This section contains meanders and Ox bow lakes, and the river creates
a flood plain often with Levees. Here, Material is deposited and erosion can also occur.
In the lower drainage basin deposition dominates as a river enters a sea or lake, the valley is at its widest and deltas and estuaries are major
landforms and habitats.
Tasks
1) Have a go at this animated task for the water cycle
2) Open this systems diagram task and see if you can complete the systems diagram for the water cycle. There are 3 levels - easy, moderate and
hard. The solutions are here. (From Teachernet)
3) See if you can locate the watershed on this drainage basin - the power point will guide you to the answer!
4) Revise with s-cool then take a test
5) Take a Journey Along a River
6) Hot Potatoes matching exercise on River processes
Fantastic site with many watershed and drainage basin images
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