Year 10 - Geography
Using GIS to analyse river catchments and profiles
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 use GIS to analyse river catchments and profiles.
Key Notes
- The GIS tool 'Trace Downstream' can be used to analyse the course of a river.
- The GIS tool 'Create Watersheds' can be used to analyse the drainage basin (catchment) of a river.
- The GIS tool 'Elevation Profile' can be used to find out if a river's long profile corresponds to a theoretical model.
Vocabulary To Learn
- analysis tools: a range of GIS applications used to support the processing, analysing, and visualising of spatial data
- Trace Downstream: a GIS tool which maps the course of a river from a location such as its source to the end of the river
- Create Watersheds: a GIS tool which maps the drainage basin or catchment of a river and all of its tributaries
- elevation profile: a GIS tool which visualises changes in height above or below sea level along any transect line such as a river course
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Difficulty in remembering meaning and location of icons in ArcGIS Online, e.g. Analysis Tools and Scene Tools.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this geography topic using two clear key points.
The GIS tool 'Trace Downstream' can be used to analyse the course of a river. The GIS tool 'Create Watersheds' can be used to analyse the drainage basin (catchment) of a river.
2. Define this geography term and use it in an example. 'analysis tools'
a range of GIS applications used to support the processing, analysing, and visualising of spatial data.
3. Correct this common geography misunderstanding.
Mistake: Difficulty in remembering meaning and location of icons in ArcGIS Online, e.g. Analysis Tools and Scene Tools. Correction: Frequent reminders and checks for understanding about icon locations and their meanings, e.g. Analysis Tools and Scene Tools.
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
- River processes of erosion, transportation and deposition Study Guide
- The storm hydrograph Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 10 Geography guide library.