River Courses and Profiles

Start with river profiles

Begin with Characteristics of rivers, a note that introduces long and cross profiles. It describes a long profile as showing how a river's height changes downstream. The note River Profiles also looks at how a river changes shape between its source and mouth.

As you read, make a short list of what each type of profile shows. Then use the mind map Long Profile to look at a river's gradient from source to sea. Compare it with the notes and check whether you can explain the difference between a long and a cross profile.

Explore the river's course

The mind map The River Valley brings profiles together with vertical and lateral erosion. For a closer look at the middle course, River courses includes meanders and lateral erosion. The Long Profile Of A River organizes features and processes by upper, middle and lower course.

Use these maps after the introductory notes. Follow one course at a time, then compare the maps to see how they organize the material. The flashcards River processes, long profiles and cross profiles offer questions on erosion and transportation as well as profiles.

Combine a quiz with a map

Try the Parts of a River quiz after looking through the maps and flashcards. Use the quiz as a check on what you can recall, then return to a resource when you want to look at a term or profile again. You can repeat that process with another quiz on the page.

River Courses and Profiles is one section of the River Processes and Landforms unit in Geography. The notes, maps and flashcards here give you different ways to study this section before exploring the rest of the unit. Choose a map and a quiz to begin.