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Year 8 Rivers

Terms in this set (26)

Abrasion
Rocks hitting into and scraping against the river bank, wearing it away.
Attrition
Rocks hitting into each other, becoming smaller and rounded
Biological weathering
The breakdown of rocks caused by living plants and creatures (e.g. where roots force themselves into the rock).
Chemical Weathering
The breakdown of rocks by chemicals in the rock reacting with air and water
Condensation
The change of state from a gas to a liquid
Confluence
The point where two rivers meet
Drainage Basin
the area from which a stream or river and its tributaries drains all of the water
Evaporation
The change of state from a liquid to a gas
Groundwater Flow
the movement of groundwater beneath the earth's surface
Hydraulic Action
the force of water hitting the bank and squeezing air into cracks in rocks, causing mini explosions.
Infiltration
The movement of water into the ground from the surface
Interception
Where leaves on trees / plants stop rain reaching the ground
Mouth
The point at which a river meets the sea
Physical Weathering
The breakdown of rock caused by the effects of changing temperature in rocks and the effects of wind and rain
Precipitation
Any moisture falling from the sky, including rain, snow, sleet and hail
River Channel
The path through with the river flows (consisting of bed and banks)
Source
Starting point of a river
Saltation
Medium sized rocks 'bounced' along bed of river with changes in speed of flow
Solution
Where minerals in rocks are dissolved by water.
Surface Runoff
movement of water over the surface of the land
Suspension
small material actually carried in the flow of the water
Throughflow
The horizontal movement of water
Traction
Large material rolled along the bed or a river
Transpiration
The evaporation of water from the leaves of trees and plants
Tributary
A small river or stream which joins a larger river
Watershed
The invisible land (marked by high land) marking the edge of a drainage basin.
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