Physical geographyLesson 1 of 5 in the course Rivers and fluvial processes

River Systems: Processes, Ecology, Human Uses, Impacts, and Planetary Evidence

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson introduces rivers, the water cycle, and the land areas that supply river water. Understanding these ideas explains why rivers flow, where they begin, and why some rivers change or dry up.

A river is a natural flow of fresh water that travels downhill across land or through caves toward a lower body of water, such as a lake, ocean, or another river. Some rivers may run dry before reaching their outlet, while others flow only during certain seasons.

All flashcards

What is a river?
A natural flow of fresh water moving downhill across land or through caves toward a lower body of water.
What are headwaters?
The smaller streams that feed a river and collectively make up its source.
What is a drainage divide?
A ridge or area of higher ground that separates drainage basins and directs water into different river systems.
Name four sources of river water.
Direct rainfall, surface runoff, snow or glacier melt, and groundwater can supply rivers.
How are hydrology and geomorphology different?
Hydrology studies the movement of water on Earth; geomorphology studies how processes such as flowing water shape landforms.

Quiz questions

  1. What is a river?Answer: A natural freshwater flow moving downhill toward a lower body of water.
  2. What is a tributary?Answer: A smaller river that flows into a larger river.
  3. In the Strahler system, what happens when two streams of the same order meet?Answer: The resulting stream's order increases by one.
  4. How can groundwater add water to a river?Answer: It can seep from aquifers into the river channel.
  5. Why can snow and glacier melt help maintain rivers in warm seasons?Answer: It supplies additional water downstream when rainfall may be limited.

Based on the Wikipedia article River, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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