Terminology for the study of rivers y y y Drainage basin - the area of land drained by a river.

Catchment area - the area within the drainage basin. Watershed - the edge of highland surrounding a drainage basin. It marks the boundary between two drainage basins. y y y y Source - The beginning or start of a river. Confluence - the point at which two rivers or streams join. Tributary - a stream or smaller river which joins a larger stream or river. Mouth - the point where the river comes to the end, usually when entering a sea.

The source of a river is often - but not always - in an upland area. Near the source, a river flows over steep slopes with an uneven surface. It often flows over a series of waterfalls and rapids. Highland areas are usually composed of hard igneous rocks, which are ideal for forming such features. As a river flows down steep slopes the water performs vertical erosion. This form of erosion cuts down towards the river bed and carves out steep-sided V-shaped valleys. As the river flows towards the mouth, the slopes become less steep. Eventually the river will flow over flat land as it approaches the sea. The discharge (amount of water flowing) will increase as the river approaches the sea.

Near the source of a river there is more vertical erosion as the river flows downhill, using its energy to overcome friction (A). As a result the channels are narrow and shallow and may contain large boulders and angular fragments eroded and weathered from the steep valley sides. The sediment in the river creates turbulence and friction. As the river approaches the mouth, velocity and energy increase due to increased discharge. The river performs more lateral erosion making the channel wider, and smoother (B) and (C). As a result there is less turbulence and friction, making the flow of water more efficient. Deposition When a river loses energy, it will drop or deposit some of the material it is carrying. y Deposition may take place when a river enters an area of shallow water or when the volume of water decreases - for example, after a flood or during times of drought. y y Deposition is common towards the end of a river's journey, at the mouth. Deposition at the mouth of a river can form deltas - for example, the Mississippi Delta. Transport Rivers pick up and carry material as they flow downstream. The four different river transport processes y y y y Solution - minerals are dissolved in the water and carried along in solution. Suspension - fine light material is carried along in the water. Saltation - small pebbles and stones are bounced along the river bed. Traction - large boulders and rocks are rolled along the river bed. Transport of material in a river Rivers need energy to transport material, and levels of energy change as the river moves from source to mouth.

When energy levels are very high, large rocks and boulders can be transported. Energy levels are usually higher near a river's source, when its course is steep and its valley narrow. Energy levels rise even higher in times of flood. When energy levels are low, only small particles can be transported (if any). Energy levels are lowest when velocity drops as a river enters a lake or sea (at the mouth). Erosion Erosion involves the wearing away of rock and soil found along the river bed and banks. Erosion also involves the breaking down of the rock particles being carried downstream by the river. The four main forms of river erosion

Hydraulic action - the force of the river against the banks can cause air to be trapped in cracks and crevices. The pressure weakens the banks and gradually wears it away. Abrasion - rocks carried along by the river wear down the river bed and banks. Attrition - rocks being carried by the river smash together and break into smaller, smoother and rounder particles. Solution - soluble particles are dissolved into the river. y Upper-course river features include steep-sided V-shaped valleys, interlocking spurs, rapids, waterfalls and gorges. y Middle-course river features include wider, shallower valleys, meanders, and oxbow lakes. y Lower-course river features include wide flat-bottomed valleys, floodplains and deltas. y Lower course features In the lower course, the river has a high volume and a large discharge. The river channel is now deep and wide and the landscape around it is flat. However, as a river reaches the end of its journey, energy levels are low and deposition takes place. y y Floodplains The river now has a wide floodplain. A floodplain is the area around a river that is covered in times of flood. A floodplain is a very fertile area due to the rich alluvium deposited by floodwaters. This makes floodplains a good place for agriculture. A build up of alluvium on the banks of a river can create levees, which raise the river bank.

y y

Deltas are found at the mouth of large rivers - for example, the Mississippi. A delta is formed when the river deposits its material faster than the sea can remove it. There are three main types of delta, named after the shape they create: Three main types of delta Example

Type of delta
Arcuate or fan-shaped - the land around the river mouth arches out into the sea and the river splits many times on the way to the sea, creating a fan effect.

The Niger Delta

The Ebro Delta

The Mississippi Delta Middle course features Meanders In the middle course the river has more energy and a high volume of water. The gradient here is gentle and lateral (sideways) erosion has widened the river channel. The river channel has also deepened. A larger river channel means there is less friction, so the water flows faster: y As the river erodes laterally, to the right side then the left side, it forms large bends, and then horseshoe-like loops called meanders. y The formation of meanders is due to both deposition and erosion and meanders gradually migrate downstream. y The force of the water erodes and undercuts the river bank on the outside of the bend where water flow has most energy due to decreased friction. y On the inside of the bend, where the river flow is slower, material is deposited, as there is more friction. y Over time the horseshoe become tighter, until the ends become very close together. As the river breaks through, eg during a flood when the river has a higher discharge and more energy, and the ends join, the loop is cut-off from the main channel. The cut-off loop is called an oxbow lake.

Oxbow lake In the animation above, upstream a large bend becomes a horseshoe and is eventually cut-off to become an oxbow lake. Downstream the river is eroding its outer bank and depositing on its inner bank to create a new meander. Upper course features

As the river moves through the upper course it cuts downwards. The gradient here is steep and the river channel is narrow. Vertical erosion in this highland part of the river helps to create steep-sided V-shaped valleys, interlocking spurs, rapids, waterfalls and gorges. y As the river erodes the landscape in the upper course, it winds and bends to avoid areas of hard rock. This creates interlocking spurs, which look a bit like the interlocking parts of a zip. y When a river runs over alternating layers of hard and soft rock, rapids and waterfalls may form.

Causes of flooding A flood occurs when a river bursts its banks and the water spills onto the floodplain. Flooding tends to be caused by heavy rain: the faster the rainwater reaches the river channel, the more likely it is to flood. The nature of the landscape around a river will influence how quickly rainwater reaches the channel. The following factors may encourage flooding:

A steep-sided channel - a river channel surrounded by steep slopes causes fast surface run off. A lack of vegetation or woodland - trees and plants intercept precipitation (ie they catch or drink water). If there is little vegetation in the drainage basin then surface runoff will be high. A drainage basin, consisting of mainly impermeable rock - this will mean that water cannot percolate through the rock layer, and so will run faster over the surface. A drainage basin in an urban area - these consist largely of impermeable concrete, which encourages overland flow. Drains and sewers take water quickly and directly to the river channel. Houses with sloping roofs further increase the amount of run-off. Flood management techniques include river engineering, afforestation and planning controls to restrict urban development on floodplains. Floods can cause damage to homes and possessions as well as disruption to communications. However, flooding can also have positive impacts on an area. Flooding deposits fine silt (alluvium) onto the floodplain, making it very fertile and excellent for agriculture. People living on or near floodplains may rely upon regular flooding to help support their farming and therefore provide food. LEDCs tend to be affected more than MEDCs by the effects of flooding. This is partly because LEDCs have more farms, and farming communities are attracted to fertile flood plains. LEDCs often do not have the resources to prevent flooding or deal with the aftermath of flooding. River management Steps can be taken to manage flooding. Often these steps involve trying to lengthen the amount of time it takes for water to reach the river channel, thereby increasing the lag time. Flood management techniques can be divided into hard- and soft-engineering options. Hard options tend to be more expensive and have a greater impact on the river and the surrounding landscape. Soft options are more ecologically sensitive. The tables summarise the main flood management techniques.

Hard-engineering options
Dam construction Dams are often built along the course of a river in order to control the amount of discharge. Water is held back by the dam and released in a controlled way. This controls flooding. Water is usually stored in a reservoir behind the dam. This water can then be used to generate hydroelectric power or for recreation purposes. Building a dam can be very expensive. Sediment is often trapped behind the wall of the dam, leading to erosion further downstream. Settlements and agricultural land may be lost when the river valley is flooded to form a reservoir. The river channel may be widened or deepened allowing it to carry more water. A river channel may be straightened so that water can travel faster along the course. The channel course of the river can also be altered, diverting floodwaters away from settlements. Altering the river channel may lead to a greater risk of flooding downstream, as the water is carried there faster.

River engineering

Soft-engineering options Afforestation Trees are planted near to the river. This means greater interception of rainwater and lower river discharge. This is a relatively low cost option, which enhances the environmental quality of the drainage basin. The river is allowed to flood naturally in places, to prevent flooding in other areas for example, near settlements. Local authorities and the national government introduce policies to control urban development close to or on the floodplain. This reduces the chance of flooding and the risk of damage to property. There can be resistance to development restrictions in areas where there is a shortage of housing. Enforcing planning regulations and controls may be harder in LEDCs.

Managed flooding (also called ecological flooding) Planning

Different interest groups have different views about flood management techniques: y Governments and developers often favour large hard engineering options, such as dam building. Building a dam and a reservoir can generate income. Profits can be made from generating electricity or leisure revenue. y Environmental groups and local residents often prefer softer options, such as planting trees. Soft options cause little damage to the environment and do not involve the resettlement of communities. y Effective flood management strategies should be economically, environmentally and socially sustainable. Sustainable strategies allow management without compromising the needs of future generations.

Hydrological cycle