1. How do river landforms in the upper course of a river form?

2. Which images have been taken in the upper course of the river? 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 11 12

3. river disappears from view hidden by this spur of land River Conwy (near Mignant Moor) Landforms in the upper course V-shaped valleys and interlocking spurs Rapids Waterfalls

4. Interlocking spurs in a V-shaped valley

5. Techniques! – 1. Field sketching…. Produce an annotated fieldsketch to show that this is part of an upland river valley.

6. The formation of a V shaped valley and interlocking spurs The river high above its _____ level has lots of potential _____. It tries to reach its base level by _____ downwards – _____ erosion. As the river cuts down, weathering attacks the _____ sides. This breaks up and loosens the _____ and _____. The loosened material creeps down the _____ because of _____, or is washed into the river by _____ (slope transport). The _____ carries it away. The river _____ downwards as the load (_____, _____ and _____ particles) are bounced and scraped along the channel _____. The result is a _____ sided _____ that has the shape of a “__”. In this valley the river is forced to _____ its way around protruding _____ – these are called _______ spurs. Missing words: hillside; valley; slope; river; base; energy; interlocking; V; wind; vertical; soil; steep; steep; rock; rock; stones; gravity; eroding; erodes; boulders; rainwater; bed

7. The formation of a V shaped valley and interlocking spurs The river high above its base level has lots of potential energy. It tries to reach its base level by eroding downwards – vertical erosion. As the river cuts down, weathering attacks the steep sides. This breaks up and loosens the soil and rock. The loosened material creeps down the slope because of gravity, or is washed into the river by rainwater (slope transport). The river carries it away. The river erodes downwards as the load (boulders, stones and rock particles) are bounced and scraped along the channel bed. The result is a steep sided valley that has the shape of a “V”. In this valley the river is forced to wind its way around protruding hillsides – these are called interlocking spurs.

8. River valleys – examination questions Identify v-shaped valleys and spurs of land.

10. Examination question X Y Study the map of a river valley below: Sketch a cross-section of the river valley from X to Y. Label two features of this river valley. State at what stage of a river’s course you would expect to find this type of valley. Give reasons for your answer. Height (m) XY

11. Definition: A representation of a vertical section across and through a landscape or landscape feature, e.g. a cross- valley profile. It is used to show what an area looks like between two points. What is a cross-section? 5 mins

12. 0 100 200 300 400 500 National Park boundary Meldon Quarry You might be asked to draw one or possibly add detail to an existing cross section, e.g. to label on human or natural features such as roads, rivers, buildings/sites, forests etc. Height above sea level (metres) A cross section from an OS map would look like this….

13. Step 1 Put the edge of the piece of paper along the line of section X to Y

14. Step 2 Mark on the paper the start and finish points (X and Y)

15. Step 3 Mark on the paper where the contours cross the edge

16. Step 4 Put some of the contour values on the paper 250 240 220 200 270 350 400 436

17. Step 5 Mark on the river (blue line) 250 240 220 200 270 350 400 436 National Park boundary Meldon Quarry

18. 0 100 200 Step 6 Draw some axes ready to plot your cross section onto. Remember you will need to draw the vertical axis so that you can include the highest point. 300 400 500 The horizontal axis should be the same length as X to Y on your piece of paper. X Y

19. 250 240 220 200 270 350 400 436 National Park boundary Meldon Quarry 0 100 200 Step 7 Transfer the paper to your cross section frame 300 400 500

20. 250 240 220 200 270 350 400 436 National Park boundary Meldon Quarry 0 100 200 Step 8 Plot the points 300 400 500

21. 250 240 220 200 270 350 400 436 National Park boundary Meldon Quarry 0 100 200 Step 9 Join the points with a curved line 300 400 500

22. 250 240 220 200 270 350 400 436 National Park boundary 0 100 200 Step 10 Mark on the river 300 400 500 National Park boundary Meldon Quarry Meldon Quarry

23. Examination question X Y Study the map of a river valley below: Sketch a cross-section of the river valley from X to Y. Label two features of this river valley. State at what stage of a river’s course you would expect to find this type of valley. Give reasons for your answer. Height (m) XY

24. River

25. Exam question Study figure 1, which is a field sketch showing the upper course of a river. a)Name two features from figure 1 to show that this is in the river’s upper course (2 marks) b)Explain how these two features were formed (6 marks) Figure 1

26. Exam question – mark scheme A. Name two features from figure 1 to show that this is in the river’s upper course (2 marks) V-shaped valley (1 mark), Interlocking spurs (1 mark) B. Explain how these two features were formed (6 marks) L1 = 1-2 marks  expect basic processes outlined with little/no key geographical terminology used L2 = 3-4 marks  formation process explained but with some errors/omissions. Some geographical terminology used. L3 = 5-6 marks  process accurately and fully explained & key geographical terminology used appropriately throughout. V- Shaped valley  Idea of vertical erosion due to river being high above the base level & having high energy. Subsequent weathering of steep valley sides & loose material transported by the river eroding vertically due to gravity. Interlocking spurs  idea that the already steep sided v-shaped valley is forced to wind its way around the protruding hillsides (usually areas of more resistant rock) created this feature.