Topic 1: River Environments

Key Idea 1.1: The Hydrological Cycle

What is meant by the terms Stores and Transfers / Flows, with at least 3 examples of each.
How the hydrological cycle works, and why it is described as a cycle.
Key Idea 1.2: Drainage Basins and their Features
The definition of a drainage basin / catchment area
What the watershed is.
The features of a drainage basin (tributary, confluence, mouth, watershed).
What is meant by the drainage network, and how this affects discharge in the drainage basin
The factors which affect run off in the drainage basin
Key Idea 1.3 - Hydrographs and River Regimes
The definition of discharge and what it is measured in.
What a river regime is, and the factors that affect it.

The major features of a storm hydrograph, what they mean and how to draw one (rainfall, discharge, peak rain, peak discharge
time, rising limb, falling limb)
The factors that affect lag time during a storm
Key Idea 1.4 - River Processes
Weathering - the definition and three types
Mass movement - the definition and two types
Erosion - the definition and four types
Transport - the definition and four types

Key
Ideafollowing
1.5 - Downstream
changes
in riverbe
channels
and landforms
For the
river features
you should
able to explain
how they form and draw a labelled diagram with the key
processes:
V shaped valley
Interlocking spurs
Waterfall
Gorge
Ox-bow lake
Meander
Floodplain
Levees
Explain what the mouth of a river and a delta is.
A case study of some of these features in a drainage basin - The River Tees
Key Idea 1.6 - Water uses, demand and supply
Why fresh water is important, and what it is used for
Trends in water demand over time, and the reasons for this (why do we need more fresh water?)
Supply - where we get our fresh water from
What the terms 'water surplus' and 'water deficit' mean, and where these occur across the globe.
A case study of water use in the uk - why is water demand rising, and what is the UK government doing to meet this?

Key Idea 1.7 - Water Quality

At least three main sources of water pollution - and how these sources can pollute rivers.
Which areas of the globe have access to safe water
The steps in managing the supply of clean water - collection, treatment and delivery.
A case study of the Three Gorges Dam including all key details as well as its main advantages and disadvantages.
Key Idea 1.8 - Flooding - Causes and Control
The six physical and four human causes of flooding
The effects of flooding on the environment and on people.
What we mean by the terms hard engineering and soft engineering
Examples of hard and soft engineering, and how they help control flooding
How prediction and risk assessments work in terms of controlling flooding
A case study of flood management in Bangladesh

:-) or :-| or :-(