the process where a river erodes the land on its sides (banks) rather than just the riverbed

the power of water eroding a river’s bed and banks

wearing away of a river’s bed and banks by its load

when material being carried is dropped due to loss of a river’s energy

River landforms caused by erosion and deposition

Geography

This unit, comprising of three variants, teaches pupils about processes and landforms associated with coastal, river and glacial landscapes. Pupils will learn about the formative processes involved in creating distinctive landforms and of the need for management.

Coastal, river and glacial landscapes

Which landform is created by the erosion of a river in its upper course?

A narrow, steep-sided valley downstream of a waterfall

All river landforms are formed by erosion only.

Deposition only occurs at the coast, not in rivers.

Both erosion and deposition shape different river landforms.

Rivers in the middle course do not create landforms.

Which of the following statements is true about how river landforms are created?

Which process causes the formation of slip-off slopes in meanders?

The rolling of large boulders along the river

The scraping of sediment against the riverbed

Because they have more energy due to steep gradients

Why do rivers erode more in the upper course?

Discharge is speed, velocity is water volume.

Discharge is in the upper course, velocity in the lower.

What is the difference between river discharge and river velocity?

A small river or stream that joins a larger one

Starter Quiz