1. HYDROSPHERE Rivers processes, profiles and landforms

2. HYDROSPHERE The long Profile of a River 3 courses of a river UPPER MIDDLELOWER

3. HYDROSPHERE Long Profile Characteristics UPPER COURSEMIDDLE COURSELOWER COURSE Characteristics  Steep/V-shaped valley  Narrow/shallow channel  High bed-load  Vertical erosion - attrition, abrasion, hydraulic action  Traction and saltation Characteristics  Open/gently sloping valley  Wider/deeper channel  More suspended sediment  Vertical erosion but now more lateral erosion. Deposition at meanders  Saltation, solution and suspension Characteristics  Open/almost flat valley  Wide/flat flood plain  Very wide/deep channel  Lateral erosion, much deposition  Mainly suspension and solution Features  ‘V’ shaped valley  Interlocking spurs  Waterfalls  Gorges  Rapids Features  Meanders  River Cliffs  Slip-off slopes  Small sections of flood plain develop Features  Large meanders and ox-bow lakes  Flood plain  Levees  Braiding  Deltas

4. HYDROSPHERE Stages of River Development UpperMiddleLower

5. HYDROSPHERE The upper course can be considered the youngest course. Water flows quickly through a narrow channel with a steep gradient. Although the water flows fast through narrow sections, the overall speed is low. It cuts downwards. This vertical erosion results in a number of distinctive landforms including the steep sloping v-shaped valley.

6. HYDROSPHERE The middle course has taken longer to develop and is older than the upper course. Water flows through a wider channel with a less steep gradient but less friction means overall speed is higher. It cuts downwards and sideways. This lateral erosion results in a number of distinctive landforms including meanders, river cliffs and sections of flood plain.

7. HYDROSPHERE The lower course has taken a very long time to develop. Water flows down a wide valley with a very shallow gradient. Moving steadily as a body of water there is very little friction so overall speed is high. The river cuts sideways, trough lateral erosion; enlarging meanders and creating ox-bow lakes, depositing sediment as levees.

8. HYDROSPHERE Need to be able to describe and explain (with diagrams)... Upper course –V-shaped Valley –Waterfalls and Gorges –Rapids Middle course –Meanders –Flood plain Lower course –Ox-bow lakes –Levees –Deltas