Key Theme: Rivers
What is the hydrological cycle?
Precipitation
Condensation
Surface Runoff
Transpiration
Infiltration
Throughflow
Evaporation
Groundwater Flow
Key Theme: Rivers
What is the river system?
Are these inputs, stores, transfers or outputs?
Precipitation
Transpiration
Interception
Evaporation
Surface Runoff
Infiltration
Groundwater storage
Sea
Lake
Throughflow
Soil moisture storage
Key Theme: Rivers
What is a drainage basin?
Source: the
point where
a river
begins
Floodplain: a
flat area
either side
of the river
that floods
Confluence:
where two or
more steams
or rivers
meet
Watershed:
The higher
outer
boundary
between two
drainage
basin
Estuary: an
area of tidal
water just
before the
mouth
Mouth:
where the
river enters
the sea
Tributary: a
smaller
stream or
river that
flows into a
larger
stream or
river
Key Theme: Rivers
Mouth
Where the river
flows into the
sea, or sometimes
a lake.
Tributary
A river which joins a larger
river.
Watershed
The boundary
dividing one
drainage basin
from another- a
ridge of high
land.
Confluence
The point at which two rivers join.
Catchment
The area from
which water
drains into a
particular
drainage basin.
Source
The upland area
where the river
begins.
Key Theme: Rivers
Mark and locate on the map: watershed, confluence, source,
tributary AND add a key.
Key Theme: Rivers
Which three processes shape a river?
Erosion
Abrasion
Attrition
Hydraulic Action
Solution
Sheer force of the water forcing
cracks in the banks open
Chemical reactions cause the
rocks to break down
Fragments of rock hit the bed
and banks and cause it to wear
away
Pebbles and rocks collide with
each other causing them to
reduce in size
Key Theme: Rivers
Which three processes shape a river?
Transportation
Traction
Suspension
Solution
Saltation
Minerals dissolved in the water
Big boulders and stones rolled
along the river bed
Small stones and pebbles
bounced along the river bed
Very small particles are
carried along suspended in the
river
Key Theme: Rivers
What fluvial landforms have we studied?
Key Theme: Rivers
MEDC Case Study: Boscastle
Causes
Effects
Responses
7mile storm
5 inches of rainfall
3 rivers run through
Boscastle- Valency,
Jordan and River
Paradise
Steep V shaped valleys
Impermeable surfaces
e.g. concrete.
Bridges
90% economy based on
tourism
32 cars swept out to
sea
Visitors centre
destroyed
Signs put out so people
knew the businesses
were open
Sandbags distributed
Bridge Widened
Drains out in
£4.5m spent on
improving flood
defences
Car park raised
Flood walls build
Channalisation
Key Theme: Rivers
LEDC Case Study: Bangladesh
Causes
Effects
Heavy monsoon rainfall
in 2004 arrived early
and fell from late June.
Trees cleared for
grazing
Melting of snow in the
Himalayas
Embankments were
overtopped
Dhaka flooded
36 million people
impacted
City was submerged
with sewage which was
carried with the water.
1.5 million women and
children were at risk
from acute malnutrition
766 people killed
Responses
Cluster villages were
each house was raised
2m above sea level
Raised homesteads by
2m
Food shelter areas for
livestock
Rescue boats
Radios given to
preparedness
committee
Embankments rebuilt
Storm drains put in