River Processes and Landforms

What the resources cover

The unit follows a river from source to mouth. The Mind Map Fluvial Processes explains river energy and discharge: the greater the discharge, the more effectively a river erodes and transports material. Fluvial depositional landforms covers the floodplain, which forms from debris left when the river floods. River Processes and Pressures - GCSE Edexcel B looks at erosion, including hydraulic action.

Other maps deal with single features, such as Waterfalls, Meanders, Levees and River Landforms: The V-shaped valley. The note Features produced by rejuvenation explains the knick point and renewed erosion.

Where to start

1. Begin with the Mind Map Rivers, which sets out the hydrological cycle, river processes, landforms and flooding.
2. Move to Geography- River and Coasts: Courses of the River and river landscapes to compare the upper, middle and lower course.
3. Open Fluvial Processes and Fluvial depositional landforms for the detail behind each landform.

Case studies

Several maps and decks cover real places. Case study: River Wye follows the river from its source in the Plynlimon hill range in Wales. Others include River Tees, Rivers - Case Study: Sheffield 2007, Bangladesh Case Study - 2004 and a quiz on the Somerset Levels 2014 River Flooding. Use them to add named examples to your answers.

Using quizzes and maps together

Read a map first, then test yourself. The River processes quiz and the Erosion, Transportation and Deposition quiz - AQA GCSE Geography show which processes you remember. Go back to the matching map for anything you miss. Flashcard decks such as River Processes and Landforms of Fluvial Erosion and Deposition help with key terms. Resources mention GCSE, IGCSE, A-level, WJEC and Junior Cert courses, so check what your own course needs.

Where this fits

This unit sits in the Physical Landscapes and Earth Processes strand of Geography. Pick one map, try one quiz, then make your own flashcards from what you found.