Year 10 - Geography
River processes of erosion, transportation and deposition
River landscapes
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit teaches pupils about river processes and landforms. Pupils will learn about the physical processes operating in rivers and about the formation of distinctive landforms of river erosion and deposition. Pupils will also learn about the importance and options of river management.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to understand the processes at work in a river.
Key Notes
- Rivers erode landscapes through the processes of hydraulic action, abrasion, attrition and solution.
- Rivers transport sediment through the processes of traction, saltation, suspension and solution.
- Rivers deposit sediment in areas of low energy.
Vocabulary To Learn
- sediment: particles of rock, soil, and organic material that are carried by a river as it flows (they vary in size from fine silt to larger boulders)
- river discharge: the volume of water that flows through a river at a given point over a specific period of time
- river velocity: the speed at which water flows in a river
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Deposition only occurs at the mouth of a river.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this geography topic using two clear key points.
Rivers erode landscapes through the processes of hydraulic action, abrasion, attrition and solution. Rivers transport sediment through the processes of traction, saltation, suspension and solution.
2. Define this geography term and use it in an example. 'sediment'
particles of rock, soil, and organic material that are carried by a river as it flows (they vary in size from fine silt to larger boulders).
3. Correct this common geography misunderstanding.
Mistake: Deposition only occurs at the mouth of a river. Correction: Deposition happens at the mouth of a river, but it also occurs wherever the river loses energy and can no longer carry its load of sediment.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Changes in river landscapes along the course of a river Study Guide
- Costs and benefits of managing flood risk Study Guide
- Example of a river flood: River Eden, Cumbria (2015) Study Guide
- Factors affecting flood risk Study Guide
- Interaction of human and physical factors in river landscapes Study Guide
- River landforms caused by erosion and deposition Study Guide
- The storm hydrograph Study Guide
- Using GIS to analyse river catchments and profiles Study Guide
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