FUNCTIONS OF A RIVER
Transportation
1. Solution
River water can dissolve some minerals in rocks, soil and
weathered material
2.Traction
Stones and boulders are rolled along the river bed, this is
known as the bed load
3.Suspension
Fine clay particles float along in the river water
4.Saltation
Sand particles are often bounced along the riverbed
Erosion
1. Solution
River water can dissolve minerals in rocks, soil and
weathered material
2.Attrition
Stones/Rocks carried down downstream are thrown
against each other. They are worn away and gradually
become more rounded as they are carried downstream
3.Abrasion/Corrasion
Stones, sand grains, and other particles carried by the
river are thrown against the bed and banks and help to
erode them
4.Hydraulic Action
The force of the river water itself, acting on the bed and
banks. Hydraulic action is potent when a river flows very
fast and becomes turbulent.
Deposition
A river deposits its load when:
1. The gradient is flat
2.The volume of water is reduced
3.When the river flows into the sea/lake
DEFINITIONS:
★Alluvium -> loose material deposited by the river
★River Bed -> The bottom of the river
★Bedload -> Material carried by the river
PARTS OF A RIVER
Upper Course:
Characteristics:
➔The river is very energetic
➔The river cuts downwards (vertical corrasion)
➔The valley sides are steep
Landforms formed:
1. V-Shaped Valleys
2.Interlocking Spurs
3.Waterfalls & Plunge Pool
4. Gorges
5.Potholes
6.Rapids
Middle Course:
Characteristics:
➔The valley is broader
➔Some deposition takes place on the valley floor or bed of
the river
➔Meaders or curves in the river start to develop
Landforms formed:
1. Meander
2.Oxbow Lakes
3.Floodplains
Lower Course:
Characteristics:
➔The gradient (height) is flat
➔Deposition takes place
➔The river valley is broad
Landforms formed:
1. Levees or raised bank
2.Deltas
3.Braided channels
UPPER COURSE FORMATION
Waterfalls & Plunge Pools
A waterfall is a landform where water falls almost vertically
down a deep valley along the course of a river.
Formation:
1. When the river flows from a band of hard rocks to soft
rocks.
2.As the soft rocks erode more quickly, the river bed will
steepen.
3.the water plunges almost vertically.
A plunge pool is formed at the base of a waterfall because of
the height from which the water drops, the rotation of small
pebbles in the swirling water and the undercurrents. This action
causes hollows in the rocks at the foot of the falls, creating a
plunge pool.
V-shaped valley and Interlocking Spurs
A river valley is defined as a long and narrow stretch of land
found between higher grounds on which the river flows.
Interlocking Spurs are steep-sided ridges that slope down from
hills or mountains to the lower parts of a valley’s side. They
separate the mouths of tributary valleys. The river twists from
side to side around the spurs, reopening the course and
resulting in the spiral becoming interlocked. Interlocking spurs
tend to obstruct the view down the valley.
Gorge
A gorge is a narrow, steep-sided river valley formed over long
periods of severe vertical erosion. Gorges are also formed when
roofs of limestone caverns collapse.
Example: The Marianne Gorge along the Marianne River in
Trinidad
MIDDLE COURSE FORMATION
Meanders
A meander is a bend or a curve in the river. It is formed in the
middle and lower course of the river.
Formation:
1. In a meandering river, there is a difference in the flow of
water.
2.Water flows faster on the outside bend (concave bands).
Erosion takes place to produce a river cliff.
3.On the inside bend (convex bank) the water flows slower.
As a result, materials are deposited to form a
slip-of-slope.
The materials deposited are called point-bar deposits.
Oxbow Lakes
An oxbow lake is a small-curved lake formed from an abandoned
meander of the river.
Flood plain
A floodplain is an area of flat land on either side of a river.
NB: It is most extensive on the lower course of a river and is
usually found where the river is meandering. It can be found in
the middle course and is a depositional feature.
Floodplains are made up of alluvium which is very fertile. This
explains why floodplains are very productive.
Oxbow lakes are also found on floodplains.
Formation
1. Flooding results and the river overflows its banks.
2.During each flood, a layer of sediment or alluvium is
deposited on the sides of the river.
3.These deposits are known as over-bank deposits.
4.Floodplains are usually swampy.
LOWER COURSE FORMATION
Levees/Leveés
A levee is a raised riverbank built up from alluvial deposits.
Formation
1. The water overflows its banks during heavy rainfall and
flooding.
2.The alluvium is deposited when the water recedes.
3.Over time, continuous depositions result in a raised river
bank. This allows the river to flow above the level of the
floodplain.
Braided Channels
A braided river has a very wide and usually shallow channel,
made up of many interlaced branches, which divide and rejoin
each other
Conditions for Formation A bar is a deposit of alluvium
1. There is a lot of eroded in a river or of sand and other
material material in the sea. It may
form an elongated island
2.The discharge varies
widely
Discharge is the amount of
3.The gradient is steep water the river carries
Deltas
A delta is an area of flat land built up from silt and alluvium
where a river flows into the sea or a lake.
Conditions for Formation
1. A large volume of sediment is present
2.The sea is relatively calm
3.The sea is fairly shallow
4.The tidal range is not too great