River Processes and Pressures

River Processes and Pressures

How do rivers change from source to mouth?
Along a rivers upper course, near the source, vertical erosion is dominant forming Vshaped valleys, waterfalls and gorges. In the middle course lateral erosion and deposition result in meanders, o -!ow la"es and flood plains. #he lower course $towards the mouth% sees large meanders, flood plains and deposition to form estuaries and deltas.

Changes in cross and long profile

River Processes and Pressures

Features: The upper course:

&.g. #he River 'harfe, (. &ngland) source * +uc"den +ec"

Weathering) +iological $!rea"down of roc"s !y plant roots and !urrowing animals%, ,hemical $!rea"down of roc" due to slightly acidic rain dissolving limestones%, Physical $!rea"down of roc" due to free-e- thaw process%.

Mass movement) ,arries weathered material, $scree% down slope.

Features: The middle course:

.ver time continued erosion can lead to the development of an o -!ow la"e.

River Processes and Pressures

Features: The lower course

&.g. #he River 'harfe, (. &ngland) mouth * /um!er &stuary, (orth 0ea

Estuaries) &stuaries are formed where the river meets the sea. As the river meets the sea it loses speed and deposits material. #his forms mudflats. #hese can !e colonised !y plants and wildlife. #hese plants will !e adapted to live in salty conditions !ecause the tides ma"e the area a salt marsh.

River Flooding

River Processes and Pressures

What are the causes of floods? Physical ,auses

Prolonged rainfall) #his saturates the soil until it can a!sor! no more water. Hard r! "oil) 0oils !a"ed hard !y dry weather, rain cant soa" into it easily so will run over and flood instead. Weather Conditions) /urricanes and storms can ma"e pro!lems worse with periods of intense rainfall. "now melt) #emperatures can rise and melt snow. Flat 'and) #his can !e a pro!lem !ecause flood water has no-where to drain.

/uman ,auses
eforestation) ,utting down trees means less water is intercepted and used !y trees. Human #nterference) /umans often try to prevent floods, $e.g. !y levees% they may wor" in some cases !ut often ma"e matters worse if they fail. $r%anisation) +uilding cities means water cannot !e a!sor!ed into soil1 instead it flows over concrete and fills drains. &lo%al Warming) ,ould cause more intense rainfall which can lead to flash floods

What are the effects of flooding?

How can flooding %e managed?

/ard &ngineering) Are to control nature. #hey are usually e pensive and can have a negative impact on the environment. 0oft &ngineering) A more sustaina%le approach, as it wor"s with nature. It will also help the local environment and is cheaper. () River "heaf* 'o+le! and on *0heffield) 2enerally hard engineering, these made flooding worse in 3445 when they where overwhelmed) 3 people drowned, 6344 homes flooded, 6444 !usinesses affected. * 7rains and em!an"ments overflowed. ,) River "-erne * 7arlington 0oft engineering $flood plain -oning8 no !uilding on flood plain, so no damage, restoring meanders, to slow the river flow down%, has prevented property damage and improved local ecosystems.