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What percentage of water on Earth is freshwater?
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What percentage of water on Earth is freshwater?
Approximately 2.5% of water on Earth is freshwater
Define the term hydrological cycle.
The hydrological cycle is a closed system where water is constantly recycled through stores and transfers
True or False?
The hydrological cycle is an open system.
False.
The hydrological cycle is a closed system.
What is an aquifer?
An aquifer is a permeable rock such as limestone or sandstone which can hold water
Define the term evapotranspiration.
Evapotranspiration is the combined process of evaporation from the Earth's surface and transpiration from vegetation.
What is the difference between infiltration and percolation?
Infiltration is water moving from the surface into the soil, while percolation is water moving through the soil after infiltration
True or False?
Overland flow occurs under the surface of the land.
False.
Overland flow occurs on the surface of the land.
What is interception?
Interception is how precipitation is prevented from reaching the ground, usually by being caught on leaves or branches
Define the term groundwater flow.
Groundwater flow is the movement of water through rocks.
What is through flow?
Through flow is the lateral movement of water within the soil.
What is a drainage basin?
A drainage basin is an open system that drains all the water which lands on the Earth's surface. Every drainage basin is covered by a network of tributaries which connect to a main river channel.
Define the term watershed.
A watershed is the boundary between two drainage basins.
What is a confluence?
A confluence is where two rivers or streams join together.
True or False?
Every drainage basin is unique.
True.
Every drainage basin is unique.
What is a tributary?
A tributary is a smaller stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main river.
Define the term drainage density.
Drainage density refers to the number of tributaries in a drainage basin. To calculate the drainage density the area of drainage basin is divided by the number of tributaries.
True or False?
Drainage basins with lots of tributaries have a low drainage density.
False.
Drainage basins with lots of tributaries have a high drainage density.
What is the mouth of a river?
The mouth of a river is where the river enters the sea/lake.
What are the four types of erosion in rivers?
The four types of erosion in rivers are:
Hydraulic action.
Abrasion.
Attrition.
Corrosion (solution).
Define the term hydraulic action.
Hydraulic action is the erosion process where the force of water wears away the bed and banks of a river.
What is abrasion?
Abrasion is the erosion process where material carried by the river grinds the bed and banks.
True or False?
Lateral erosion is dominant in the upper course of rivers.
False.
Vertical erosion is dominant in the upper course of rivers.
What are the four processes of transportation in rivers?
The four processes of transportation in rivers are:
Traction.
Saltation.
Suspension.
Solution.
Define the term traction.
Traction is the transport of large particles along the river bed.
Which type of transportation involves material bouncing along the river bed?
Saltation is the form of transportation which involves material bouncing along the river bed.
True or False?
Deposition occurs when a river has excess energy.
False.
Deposition occurs when a river does not have enough energy to carry materials.
What is the Bradshaw model?
The Bradshaw model summarises the changes in river characteristics as it moves downstream.
Define the term bedload.
Bedload is the heaviest material carried by a river, typically along the river bed.
Name two upland river landforms?
Upland river landforms include:
Waterfalls.
Gorges.
V-shaped valleys.
Interlocking spurs.
Define the term plunge pool.
A plunge pool is a deep pool at the base of a waterfall formed by hydraulic action and abrasion.
True or False?
V-shaped valleys are formed by lateral erosion.
False.
V-shaped valleys are formed by vertical erosion.
What are interlocking spurs?
Interlocking spurs are alternating ridges of land that project into a river valley in upland areas.
Define the term meander.
A meander is a bend in the course of a river.
True or False?
Waterfalls often form where soft rock overlies hard rock.
False.
Waterfalls often form where hard rock overlies soft rock.
How do oxbow lakes form?
Oxbow lakes form when a meander is cut off from the main river channel during a flood.
What is a floodplain?
A floodplain is a flat expanse of land on either side of a river formed by the migration of meanders and the deposition of silt during floods.
True or False?
Levées are formed by erosion and transportation.
A levée is a natural embankment formed by deposition of sediment along a river's banks.
What is a delta?
A delta is a landform formed when a river flows into a standing body of water and deposits sediment.
What are the two main river hazards?
The two main river hazards are flooding and erosion.
Define the term bankfull discharge.
Bankfull discharge is when the water in a river reaches the top of its banks.
What are two main natural causes of river flooding?
Two main natural causes of river flooding are heavy torrential rain and prolonged steady rain.
True or False?
Human activities can increase the risk of flooding.
True.
Human activities can increase the risk of flooding.
What is urbanisation?
Urbanisation is the process of land becoming more urban, often resulting in increased impermeable surfaces.
Name three hazards of flooding.
There are a range of hazards related to flooding including:
The spread of water-related diseases.
Deaths and injuries.
Damage to infrastructure.
Erosion of river banks.
Destruction of crops.
Name three opportunities provided by rivers.
Opportunities provided by rivers include:
Fertile soil for agriculture.
Water for irrigation.
Transport routes.
Leisure and tourism.
Electricity generation.
Food.
Flat land for ease of construction.
True or False?
Flood waters increase the risk of water related diseases.
True.
Flood waters increase the risk of water related diseases. The water may act as a breeding ground for the animals that spread disease for example, the mosquito. The water may be contaminated by bacteria which can spread diseases such as cholera
True or False?
Flooding leads to a decrease in erosion of the banks of rivers.
False.
Flooding leads to a increase in erosion of the banks of rivers due to increased discharge and velocity.
What is a flood hydrograph?
A flood hydrograph is a graph showing changes in river discharge after a storm event.
Define the term lag time.
Lag time is the time taken for precipitation to reach the river from where it falls.
True or False?
Rivers with a long lag time have a higher flood risk.
False.
Rivers with a short lag time have a higher flood risk
What are the two main categories of flood management?
The two main categories of flood management are hard engineering and soft engineering.
Define the term hard engineering.
Hard engineering involves building structures or changing the river channel to manage floods.
Name three examples of hard engineering.
Examples of hard engineering include:
Dams and reservoirs.
Embankments or levées.
Straightened channels.
Flood relief channels.
Spillways or overflow channels.
What is river restoration?
River restoration is a soft engineering technique that supports the river by restoring it back to its original regime.
Define the term flood plain zoning.
Flood plain zoning is a soft engineering technique that restricts certain land uses on the flood plain to reduce risk.
True or False?
Dredging rivers always reduces flood risk.
False.
Dredging rivers can increase flood risk by requiring concrete reinforcement of banks
What were the main features of the Flood Action Plan (FAP) in Bangladesh?
The main features of the Flood Action Plan (FAP) in Bangladesh included:
Monitoring of flood levels.
Construction of levées/embankments.
Building 5 000 flood shelters.
Creating flood water storage systems.
A more effective flood warning system.
Building of dams to store water.
Reducing deforestation.