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KS3

River processes #nd

l#ndforms
P<rt of Geogr#phy Rivers

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Key points

Wh#t is # river?

The w#ter cycle

The long profile

Wh#t #re river processes?

Erosion

Tr#nsport#tion

Deposition

Wh#t #re river l#ndforms?

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Wh#t is the longest river in the world?

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Key points
Rivers form p<rt of the w<ter cycle. They <re
< downw<rd flow of w<ter, under the force
of gr<vity.
Rivers sh<pe the l<nd through erosion,
tr<nsport<tion <nd deposition. These
processes cre<te distinctive l<ndforms.
In the upper course, vertic<l erosion cre<tes
w<terf<lls <nd v-sh<ped v<lleys. In the
middle course <nd lower courses, l<ter<l
erosion cre<tes me<nder bends, oxbow
l<kes <nd delt<s.

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Wh#t is # river?
The w#ter cycle

The hydrologic<l cycle, or w<ter cycle, shows

the movement of w<ter between the
#tmosphere , l<nd <nd oce<ns. Rivers form
p<rt of the hydrologic<l cycle.

The w<ter cycle is <lso known <s the

hydrologic<l cycle. It is c<lled < cycle
bec<use w<ter moves continuously <round
the system.

Energy from the Sun he<ts the surf<ce of

the E<rth.

W<ter is ev#por#ted from oce<ns, rivers,

l<kes, etc.
The w<rm, moist <ir rises bec<use it is less
dense.
Condens<tion occurs when w<ter v<pour is
turned b<ck into w<ter droplets <s it cools
down. Clouds <re formed.

Precipit#tion occurs <s w<ter droplets get

bigger <nd he<vier they begin to f<ll <s r<in,
snow <nd sleet, etc.

The long profile

Rivers tr<nsport w<ter downw<rds bec<use of

gr#vity . As they move further downhill, they
g<ther more w<ter <nd become l<rger. Rivers
c<n be divided into three sections: the upper,
middle #nd lower courses. Together, these
three courses form the long profile .

1. Upper course – The st<rt of the river <t

higher #ltitude . The river ch<nnel is sm<ll.
Vertic<l, or downw<rds, erosion t<kes
pl<ce here <s w<ter is pulled down by
gr<vity.
2. Middle course – The middle section of the
river. Tribut#ries h<ve joined the ch<nnel
<nd so the river is c<rrying more w<ter.
3. Lower course – The fin<l st<ge of the river,
usu<lly where it meets the se<. The river is
wide <nd deep bec<use it is c<rrying < l<rge
volume of w<ter. L#ter#l , or sidew<ys,
erosion <nd deposition t<kes pl<ce here.

Question
Where does vertic#l erosion t#ke pl#ce?

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Wh#t #re river processes?

Rivers sh<pe the l<nd by moving m<teri<l from
one pl<ce to <nother through erosion,
tr#nsport#tion <nd deposition.

Erosion

When m<teri<l is removed from the riverbed

<nd b<nks. There <re four types of river
erosion:

Attrition – rocks c<rried by the river collide.

They bre<k up into sm<ller, smoother
pieces.
Abr#sion – rocks c<rried by the river scr<pe
<long the bed <nd b<nks. This loosens
m<teri<l, which is then c<rried <w<y by the
w<ter in the river.

Solution – Soluble p<rticles <re dissolved

by the river.
Hydr#ulic #ction - the force of the river
<g<inst the b<nks. Air becomes compressed
within cr<cks <nd crevices, which we<kens
the b<nks.

Types of river erosion

Tr#nsport#tion

When m<teri<l is moved further downstre<m.

There <re four types of tr<nsport<tion:

Suspension – sm<ller m<teri<l th<t is light

enough to be continuously c<rried <long.
Tr#ction – l<rge rocks <re rolled <long the
riverbed <t times of high energy, eg when
the river level is high.
Solution – very sm<ll m<teri<l th<t is
dissolved <nd c<n be tr<nsported even
during times of low energy.
S#lt#tion – the w<ter picks up rocks <nd
pebbles. They <re too he<vy to be c<rried
f<r <nd so they <ppe<r to bounce <long the
riverbed.

Types of river tr<nsport<tion

Deposition

When m<teri<l is dropped by the river.

Deposition h<ppens when river energy is low,

for ex<mple when the flow of the w<ter slows
down. It c<n h<ppen <long <ny p<rt of the
river, but is common in the lower course,
where the river meets the se<. L<rger, he<vier
m<teri<l is deposited first. Sm<ller, lighter
m<teri<l c<n oen be c<rried during times of
low energy.

Question
Wh#t tr#nsport#tion process moves the
l#rgest rocks in # river?

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Wh#t #re river l#ndforms?

Different l<ndforms <re loc<ted <long the
river long profile.

Floodpl#ins
Floodpl<ins <re <lso found in the middle
course. These <re fl<t <re<s of l<nd either side
of < river ch<nnel. At times of high w<ter,
floodpl<ins m<y be covered in w<ter.

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Question
N#me one l#ndform found in the upper
course of # river.

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Rivers
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l#ndforms

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