Activity One - Explain

Rivers help create a range of landforms due to its very specific processes which effect change. We can not begin to look at the landforms found in the different areas of the river without knowing what the processes are and how they move the sediment and bedload. Watch the 'Time for Geography' clip and use the slide show below explain how the following processes work:

• • • • • • • • 1. Hydraulic Action

                2. Attrition

                3. Corrasion/Abrasion

                4. Corrosion

                5. Vertical Erosion

                6. Horizontal Erosion

Useful Resources

Activity Two - Transportation

You have already learnt how a river transports its material so this should just be a review (hence the distinct lack of resources). On a A4 white board (or a piece of paper) draw a diagram to show the four ways in which a river transports is material (bedload and sediment). Remember that using the correct terminology is crucial!

Activity Three - Draw

Below is a digram which represents Hjulstrom's theory. Hjulstrom's theory illustrates how fast the water needs to be to carry a certain size of sediment. If the velocity of the river falls then heavier material will be deposited. If the velocity increases then more sediment can be transported and the greater chance that erosion will take place. For us in Switzerland we have seen the impact that snow melt has on the velocity of our rivers and the large boulders the rivers can then carry.

• • • • • 1. Copy out the diagram below.

          2. Describe what the image represents.

Activity Four - Channel Characteristics

When we discuss a channel's characteristics we think about its shape and size. The discharge and velocity of a river can impact those characteristics. A bend in a river is called a meander and this helps to show how a channels shape can change due to erosion and deposition.

• • • 1. Looking at image three describe how the meander has changed its location in the valley.

      2. Draw out image four and explain how a meander impacts a channels shape.

Useful Resources

Activity Five - Seasons

Seasons can have a huge impact on the discharge of river depending on the precipitation rates and temperature. By reading the article below and using your Freshwater text book by Codrington write down how the different seasons can impact discharge.

Useful Resource

BBC - What have we done to make the flooding worse?