Key Terms : River Landscapes in the UK Flashcards

All 7 cards in this deck

What is discharge of a river?

The volume of water passing a point in a river per second, measured in cumecs (m³/s).

What is lag time on a hydrograph?

The time between peak rainfall and peak discharge.

What is traction as a method of river transport?

Large boulders and rocks being rolled along the river bed.

True or false? In saltation, the load is dissolved and carried along in the water.

False. Saltation is small pebbles and sand bouncing along the bed; dissolved load is carried in solution.

What is suspension as a method of river transport?

Fine, light material such as silt and clay being carried along within the water flow.

What is the difference between vertical and lateral erosion in a river?

Vertical erosion deepens the channel (upper course); lateral erosion widens it sideways (middle and lower course).

What is solution as a type of river erosion?

Soluble rocks such as limestone and chalk being dissolved by slightly acidic river water.