River Landscapes in the UK

River landscapes in the uk

• Key idea: the shape of river valleys changes as rivers flow downstream…

• How does the long profile and cross profile change as a river moves downstream?

• What processes of erosion operate along the river? (ie. hydraulic action, abrasion, attrition and solution)

• What processes of transportation operate along the river? (ie. traction, saltation, solution, suspension)

• What is deposition and why is sediment deposited along river?

• Key idea: distinctive fluvial landforms result from different physical processes…

• Key idea: different management strategies can be used to protect river landscapes from the effects of

  flooding…

• What landforms result from erosion in the upper course and how are they formed? (eg. interlocking spurs,

  waterfalls, gorges)

• What landforms result from erosion and deposition in the middle course and how are they formed?
  (eg. meanders, oxbow lakes)

• What landforms result from erosion and deposition in the lower course and how are they formed?

  (eg. levees, flood plains, estuaries)

• What major landforms of erosion and deposition exist along a UK river that you have studied?

• Which physical and human factors affect flood risk? (eg. precipitation, geology, relief, urbanization,

  deforestation)

• How do hydrographs show the relationship between precipitation and discharge?

• What hard engineering strategies help protect the coastline? How do they work and what are their pros

  and cons? (eg. dams and reservoirs, channel straightening, embankments, flood relief channels)

• What soft engineering strategies help protect the coastline? How do they work and what are their pros

  and cons? (eg. flood warnings and preparation, flood plain zoning, afforestation, river restoration)

• Do you know an example of a flood management scheme in the UK?