River Landscape: Long Profile (Edexcel GCSE Geography A)

Case Study: River Tees

River characteristics

• All rivers have a long profile and cross profiles

• Each river's long and cross profiles are unique but they do have some characteristics in common

• These profiles show changes in river characteristics from the source to the mouth

Long profile

• The long profile of a river shows the changes in the river gradient from the source to the mouth

• Most long profiles have a concave shape with similar characteristics 

• The gradient decreases from the source to the mouth

River Tees long profile

• The source of the River Tees is 754 m above sea level

• It is located at Cross Fell in the Pennines

• In the upper course, the gradient is steep 

• This gradient decreases in the middle course 

• In the lower course, the gradient is gentle and in many areas, it is flat

Long profile

Cross profiles

• The cross profiles of a river are cross-sections from one bank to another

• Cross profiles of the upper, middle and lower courses show the changes in the river channel 

The River Tees upper course

• In the upper course, close to the source at Cross Fell, the river channel is:

  • Narrow 

  • Shallow

• The bedload is large and angular

• Vertical erosion leads to the formation of steep-sided, v-shaped valleys 

• Interlocking spurs are also found in the upper course of the River Tees

  • These landforms can be seen in a number of locations, including near to Cauldron Snout

• The channel bed is rough and uneven

  • The more resistant whinstone rock forms rapids between High Force and Low Force waterfalls 

• There are high levels of friction 

Upper Course

The River Tees middle course

• In the middle course, the gradient of the River Tees becomes more gentle

• The channel becomes wider and deeper 

  • At Barnard Castle the depth varies between 0.46 and 1.7 metres

• Lateral erosion leads to the formation of meanders in the river channel near Barnard Castle

• The valley sides are more gentle and floodplains have formed on either side of the river

• Velocity has increased due to higher discharge and lower levels of friction

• Sediment in the river is smoother, smaller and more rounded 

Middle Course

The River Tees lower course

• The gradient is almost flat

• The River Tees is at its widest and deepest

  • At Stockton, the usual range of depth is between 2.61 and 3.20 metres

• Levels of friction are low 

• The meanders in the river between Darlington and Yarm are larger than in the middle course

• The settlement of Yarm is located in a meander

• Oxbow lakes have formed in some areas as a result of erosion and deposition

• Deposition dominates, forming natural levees and large flat floodplains alongside the river 

• The bedload at this point is mainly sediment and alluvium

Lower Course