River Vocab
What are interlocking spurs?
Ridged land that fits together like fingers along a narrow V-shaped valley.
What do you call the process where rivers wear away the land?
erosion
What is evaporation?
When water changes from a liquid to a gas
What do we call the start of a river?
the source
What type of rock prevents water from soaking into the soil?
impermeable rock
What is run-off?
Water that flows over the land because it cannot soak in
What is transportation?
The process where rivers move their load downstream
What is condensation?
when water vapor cools and forms clouds
What do we call the point where two rivers meet?
confluence
In which part of a river does most deposition occur?
lower course
What is througflow?
Water that moves through the soil toward rivers
What do you call the process where rivers drop their load ?
Deposition
What are three types of precipitation?
rain, snow, or hail
What is the mouth of a river?
the end of a river where it enters the sea
In which part of a river are V-shaped valleys formed?
upper course
What is transpiration?
Water that is released into the air by plants
What are the four ways rivers transport material?
traction, saltation, suspension, solution
What's an example of how water is collected?
run-off, infiltration, throughflow, direct precipitation
What is a watershed?
the invisible boundary between different drainage basins
How can rivers chemically erode rocks like limestone?
solution
What is an oxbow lake?
A bend in a river that has been cut off to form a separate body of water
Why is a river’s load heavier near its source?
hasn't eroded yet
What are the steps of the water cycle?
evaporation, condensation, precipitation, collection
How is a waterfall formed?
Bonus (200 points): Name one landform created as part of this process
Erosion by hydraulic action and abrasion weather the soft rock and form a plunge pool, eventually a gorge forms
In which part of a river is suspension transportation most common?
middle or lower course