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Jul 6, 2020 · How does geology affect the formation of river landforms? The Long Profile of a River; Cross profiles of a river; Landforms in the upper course of a river; Landforms in the middle course of a river; Landforms in the lower course of a river; How do weather and climate affect river landscapes? Human activity in River Landscapes
A river is a moving body of water that flows from its source close sourceWhere a river starts. This is usually up high, like on top of a mountain. into another body of water, like the sea. A river ...
There are four types of erosion: Hydraulic action - This is the sheer power of the water as it smashes against the river banks. Air becomes trapped in the cracks of the river bank and bed, and ...
- Volume of Water
- Velocity
- Gradient
- Erosion
- Change in Landscape
- Human Activities
- Climate
- Channel Patterns
The volume of water increases downstream due to increasing inlets from tributaries and rainwater. The flow downstream is characteristically turbulent, chaotic, and erratic. The larger discharge requires a bigger space due to the added volume of water. To contain the water, the river enlarges along the banks, leading to an enlarged width.
As a river flows downstream, its velocity increases. The speed increases due to the fact that more water is added from tributaries along the course of the river. Additionally, less water is in contact with the river bed, which results in less energy needed overcome friction. The larger mass of water causes wider and deeper water channels in order t...
The slope of a river decreases as it flows progressively downstream. Gravitational force is stronger uphill, but gentle in the lower course. The water tends to flow slowly due to higher water friction, hence the width increases. Towards the mouth, the gradient is lower, enabling water to flow on a wide surface area.
River water carries millions of tonnes of sediments. The sediments are both suspended load and bed loads. Suspended water load is more relaxed as the gradient and velocity decreases. The bed load, which moves downward by a process of saltation, collides with each other less as the turbulence decreases. Therefore, the water occupies more horizontal ...
The land surface is flatter as a river approaches the mouth. Most rivers will empty into lakes, oceans, or swamps which have a flat terrain. Therefore, a river tends to gain more space horizontally, resulting in a greater width. A river constantly interacts with the physical environment, and therefore can overflow downstream, which results in flood...
Human settlement and intensive land use are more common in lowland areas. Human activities lead to more bare land. For example, deforestation and urbanization lead to the excavation of sand and stones for building along riverbeds. These types of land reform ultimately result in the widening of a river.
Water upstream may be composed of snow and ice. However, downstream the climate may change and become gradually warmer, causing snow and ice to melt. This melting increases the flow of a river, which increases its width.
Near the source, general river geomorphology is categorized as a straight channel. However, downstream the water flow meanders due to the erosion of outer parts of bends in the river. The river becomes wider as the meandering channel is eroded and washes away more materials along the riverbank. The cross-sectional area of the river, therefore, beco...
Changing channel characteristics – cross profile, wetted perimeter, hydraulic radius, roughness, efficiency and links to velocity and discharge. Rivers undergo huge changes as they move from their source regions in the mountains downstream to their mouths. The Bradshaw model is a theoretical model that helps describe the changes we would ...
The middle course of a river has more energy and volume than in the upper course. The gradient is gentler and more lateral (sideways) erosion widens the channel. The river channel has also become deeper. Meanders are typical landforms found in this stage of the river. Meanders and Oxbow Lakes A meander is a winding curve or bend in a river.
People also ask
Why does the width of a river increase?
Why does a river become bigger if it erodes?
What factors contribute to the widening of a river downstream?
Why does river water flow slowly?
How does a river flow in a winding course?
How does a river affect the flow of water?
Water moves slowly on the inside of the bend and the river deposits some load, forming a gently sloping river beach close river beaches The river moves more slowly on the inside of the bend. It ...
