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Conestoga River Watershed Analysis Guide

The document contains a series of questions related to river features, drainage basins, and the effects of living near rivers, including benefits and problems. It includes analysis of maps, diagrams, and photographs to explore concepts such as watersheds, erosion, deposition, and delta formation. The questions require descriptive and explanatory answers based on provided figures and personal knowledge of river systems.

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clemchihu
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53 views11 pages

Conestoga River Watershed Analysis Guide

The document contains a series of questions related to river features, drainage basins, and the effects of living near rivers, including benefits and problems. It includes analysis of maps, diagrams, and photographs to explore concepts such as watersheds, erosion, deposition, and delta formation. The questions require descriptive and explanatory answers based on provided figures and personal knowledge of river systems.

Uploaded by

clemchihu
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Question 1

a. Study Fig. 4.1, which is a map of the drainage basin of the Conestoga River in the
USA

(i) What is meant by the term watershed?


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[1]
(ii) In Fig. 4.1:

– draw an arrow to show the direction of flow of the Conestoga River


– mark an ʻSʼ on the source of a river.
[2]

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(iii) Describe the likely differences between the cross sections of the river valleys at X
and Y.
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(iv) Suggest two benefits and two problems of living close to the river between
Lancaster and Brownstown.

Benefit 1
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Benefit 2
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Problem 1
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Problem 2
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[4]

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b. Study Fig. 4.2, which shows two maps of the same part of the River Teme in 1900
and 2015.

(i) Using the map of the course of the River Teme in 2015 in Fig. 4.2, describe the
main features of the lake marked P.
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[3]
(ii) Explain why the course of the River Teme shown in Fig. 4.2 has changed over
time.
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[5]

a. Describe the main features of a delta and explain its formation.


You may use a labelled diagram.

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Question 2
a. Study Fig. 3.1 (Insert), which is a photograph of a river feature.

(i) Identify the type of river feature shown on Fig. 3.1. Choose from the words below:
confluence meander mouth source

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(ii) Describe two characteristics of the rivers shown on Fig. 3.1.


1 .......................................................................................................................................
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[2]
(iii) Explain why erosion is likely to be the main process in the rivers shown in Fig.
3.1.
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c. For a named river you have studied, explain the causes of flooding.

Named river ........................................


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[Total: 25]

Question 3

(a) Study Fig. 3.1, which shows different parts of a river and its valley.

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(i) In which diagram, A, B or C, does the river valley have the steepest sides and narrowest
valley floor?

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[1]
(ii) Which diagram is closest to the mouth of the river? Give a reason for your answer.

Diagram chosen ..........................


Reason for choice .............................................................................................................
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(iii) Explain how erosion will take place along the river shown in Fig. 3.1.
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(iv) Explain why deposition is likely to take place in the area shown in A in Fig. 3.1.
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(b) Study Figs. 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 (Insert), which are photographs of three different rivers.

(i) Using evidence from Figs. 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 only, describe three different benefits of
living near a river.
1 .......................................................................................................................................
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(ii) Explain why living on a delta or near a river may be hazardous for people.
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(c) Explain how a delta is formed. Include a fully labelled diagram or diagrams.

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Common questions

Powered by AI

River valleys at different stages of a river have distinct cross-sectional features. At location X, typically found in upper course areas, valleys are narrower and V-shaped due to predominant vertical erosion. At location Y, likely representing a middle or lower course, valleys are wider and U-shaped with gentler slopes due to lateral erosion and deposition .

Benefits of living near the Conestoga River include access to water for agricultural use and recreational activities that can enhance local economies and quality of life. Potential problems involve flood risks that can lead to property damage and livelihood disruption, and water pollution affecting public health .

Erosion is likely dominant in the rivers depicted, as indicated by steep valley sides and high water flow velocities leading to increased hydraulic action and abrasion. Such conditions favor the downcutting of river beds and lateral erosion of banks, enhancing the erosional process .

Living near deltas or rivers presents hazards such as flooding, which can damage infrastructure, displace communities, and disrupt ecosystems. Sediments may cause land subsidence, increasing vulnerability to severe weather impacts. Contaminant transport through waterways poses health risks, necessitating integrated risk management and resilient urban planning .

The course change of a river over time, such as the River Teme from 1900 to 2015, is influenced by natural processes like erosion, sediment deposition, and meander development. Human activities such as construction, deforestation, or artificial channelization further alter river courses. Changes in water volume due to climate variations or infrastructural modifications also play significant roles .

Delta formation occurs where rivers deposit sediment as they enter a standing body of water, like a sea or lake. The reduction in water velocity causes the sediment to settle, forming characteristic landforms such as distributaries and depositional features. Deltas are significant for biodiversity, agricultural areas, and act as natural barriers against storm surges .

Deposition occurs when the river loses energy, often in its lower course or at points like 'A', leading to sediment settling. This process forms features such as floodplains and levees, reshaping landscapes, influencing soil fertility, and enabling diverse ecosystems to establish .

Factors contributing to river flooding include heavy rainfall, snowmelt, insufficient drainage capacity, and human alterations such as urbanization and deforestation. Understanding these helps in developing flood prediction models, implementing infrastructure improvements like levees, and enhancing emergency preparedness and adaptive land use planning .

A watershed is a geographic area that drains all the streams and rainfall to a common outlet, such as the outflow of a reservoir, mouth of a bay, or any point along a stream channel . It plays a crucial role in collecting and channeling precipitation, impacting river ecosystems by influencing water quality, river flow, and habitat conditions .

The lake marked 'P' is likely characterized by a wide expanse of water facilitating deposition and differing water chemistry from the river. It serves as a habitat for aquatic species, part of sedimentary deposition sites, and impacts local climate patterns and biodiversity .

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