GCSE RIVERS
Rivers - the syllabus
Long and cross profiles, processes of erosion (hydraulic
power, corrosion, corrasion, attrition), transport (traction,
saltation, suspension, solution) and deposition.
Guidance
How a river profile changes downstream and the relative importance of
the processes at work such as the typical V shaped valley in the upper
course
where vertical corrasion dominates.
The characteristics and formation of waterfalls, gorges, meanders, ox-bow lakes, levees, flood plains and deltas.
Guidance
Students will be expected to be able to name an example, describe each feature and to explain its formation making reference to the processes at work.
Recognise and describe fluvial features on Ordnance Survey maps and photographs.
River basin management issues. the causes and effects of flooding in river basins in the context of both LEDCs and MEDCs.
The short, medium and long term strategies used to attempt to manage
the floods.
Contemporary issues concerning use of hard v soft strategies and attempts
to achieve sustainability.
The social, economic, environmental and political issues that have an
impact upon strategies and the values and attitudes of interested groups
nb students should be aware of how and why the methods
used are different between the LEDW and MEDW and now currently there
is a move away from hard engineering e.g. dams on the Colorado to softer
approaches e.g. flood plain zoning, improved warning system..
River Soca - flowing from the Julian Alps, Slovenia 2008
REVISION
visit these web links to help you revise for the rivers section
1. Learn on the Internet - rivers
3. S-Cool pages - quite good
4. Gloucester 2007 Flooding Case study
5. The great 1993 Mississippi flood
6. Environment Agency Flood pages - you really need to see this one!