There's a really good chance that your school isn't far from a river. You've probably crossed it a few times and maybe even been on a boat trip or swam in it (or not!). This unit looks at how rivers change in characteristic from their source all the way to the mouth (where they meet another water body). We will look at landforms as well as the opportunities that arise from living close to a river. We also look at what happens when rivers 'go wrong' and flood event wreak havoc on communities.
There is one case study required here, although we cover it using two different places and events. 'Opportunities presented by a river...' (The Nile) and '... associated hazards & their management' - Bareges, France.
What Is a River?
Watch a very enthusiastic Emerald Robinson explain what a river is! How can you smile so much when talking??
Drainage Basin Processes & Characteristics
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Objective: To understand (and remind ourselves) how the hydrological cycle works
Starter: Watch the NASA video to the right to get the background on the water cycle or hydrological cycle. We are going to be interested in the part of the water cycle that happens on the surface of the Earth (drainage basin). . Task 1 - Complete this Global Hydrological Cycle Worksheet from www.geographyalltheway. Task 2 - Use the worksheet below to carry out some independent research to find out about other processes at work within drainage basins. |
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River Processes
Map analysis skills - Check out the map below. Can you spot the Rio Grande? This is the river that forms the natural border between the USA and Mexico. To the north of the river is the United States and to the south is Mexico.
Now zoom in a little more closely and check out some of those strange patterns south of the river. What is going on? What has made those shapes? What are they? Roads? Paths? Strange shaped fields?
Now zoom in a little more closely and check out some of those strange patterns south of the river. What is going on? What has made those shapes? What are they? Roads? Paths? Strange shaped fields?
Now, check out the short video below from Liverpool University. This is a simple model that shows how rivers 'move' and change their course over time. You will hear the presenter refer to the processes of erosion, transport & deposition.
Now look again at the embedded map above. What do you think these strange shapes represent?
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Objective: To understand the processes that affect rivers. There are three main processes that affect rivers and their valleys. 1. Erosion & Weathering 2. Transportation 3. Deposition Task 1 - Go to this revision site from the BBC. Copy the definitions of the four main processes of erosion into your table on the worksheet. Next to each one, you should draw a quick cartoon to help you remember how this process works. Now, check out this excellent video from the Time for Geography team. This video will help you to understand the reality of the theory that you have just learned. Task 2 - Go to this excellent Geography site and make notes on the human and physical causes of erosion. Write your notes on the second side of the worksheet. Task 3 - Underneath your table, complete the diagram annotations by using the diagram to the right. |
Source: www.coolgeography.co.uk
Source: Greenfield Geography Wiki
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Modelling Rivers - The Bradshaw Model
A river at its source is very different from the river when it enters the sea (the mouth). There are generally huge changes that apply to every river on planet earth, whether is be the mighty River Nile or your local stream. The diagram below helps to show you those changes along what we call the 'long profile' of a river. In this next unit of work, we will be looking at these differences and how they can be modeled before moving on to study our local river and how it changes between its source and mouth.
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What is the Bradshaw Model? Bradshaw Model = theoretical model that shows how a river’s characteristics changes as it flows downstream. If the triangle increases in size it means that variable increases the further you go down the stream e.g. the amount of water (discharge) in the stream increases as you move down the stream. If the triangle shrinks this means the opposite e.g. the size of particles in the stream gets smaller the further down the stream you go because of erosion (e.g. attrition) Task 1 You will need to access the worksheet below (gret tab). To help you to complete this, you will firstly need the video to the right and later, the blue tab of information below. Work your way through the tasks as they are set out. |
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Rivers - Source to Mouth - La Garonne, France
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Objective: To trace the Garonne river back to its source in the Pyrenees and learn about the features associated with the upper course of the river.
Starter: Study the map of the Garonne watershed to the right. Take a copy of this map and complete a written description of the Garonne using the following sentence to get you going. Download the worksheet by clicking on the blue tab below. The Garonne has its source 2600 metres up in the Spanish Pyrenees above the town of Vielha. The river takes a north west course through the Pyrenees before turning east towards the settlement of Saint-Gaudens (you continue........) Background Task - Study the cross section diagram to the right hand side, take a copy and use text boxes to annotate on the approximate locations of the following settlements: 1. Saint-Gaudens 2. Toulouse 3. Agen 4. Bordeaux You'll need to use Google Maps to help you. Also label one of the tributaries as Le Tarn and the name of the ocean body that it flows into. |
Source: http://www.eptb-garonne.fr/pages/agenda/2012/40.jpg
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Upper, Middle & Lower Course
Case Study - La Garonne
We are going to be using our nearest major river, Le Garonne, as our case study for this section of the course. If you have been to Toulouse before and stood on Pont Neuf, you will have seen this river, one of the biggest in France. Any river, anywhere in the world can be split into three sections. Section 1 is the upper course (think high up in the mountains). Section 2 is the middle course (where it comes down into the lowlands). Section 3 is the lower course (where it is at its widest and most powerful and enters the sea). This is also known as the 'River Long Profile'
Use the zoom facility to go to each of the blue markers and read the description. Start at the source and work your way down to the mouth of the Garonne.
Use the zoom facility to go to each of the blue markers and read the description. Start at the source and work your way down to the mouth of the Garonne.
View River Garonne - Upper, Middle & Lower Course. in a larger map
Upper Course Of La Garonne
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Task 1 - Copy & Complete (choose from words below)
In the upper course of any river, ________ is always the main force because the _________ of the river is steep and it has a lot of energy, especially during _____ ______ and heavy rain. The main process of erosion is __________ and this causes _________ and vertical erosion of the banks and the ____ of the river. Remember that the conditions in the Pyrenees can be harsh and therefore weathering can affect the slopes of the valley. Landslides and ______________ can carry materials down the slope and into the river where it is _____________ away. This often makes the valley steeper and gives it a ____________ appearance. snow melt, transported, erosion, V-shaped, avalanches, gradient, abrasion, lateral, bed Task 2 - Watch the video to above & right that explains processes in the upper course. Using this (& fig 1.11 on p.10 of the OCR B textbook), create a three part cartoon diagram to show the formation of a v-shaped valley and interlocking spurs. No access to OCR B textbook? Click here for more information on V Shaped valleys and here for information on interlocking spurs. Task 3 - Study the Google StreetView images below. The first is of an area close to the source of the Garonne and the second near Vielha. Have a good look around. Take a screenshot and complete a piece of writing describing the typical characteristics of this upper course area of the river. |
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White Water Rapids - Formation
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OK, so some of you have experienced rapids on the PGL trip in Year 7 & 8, others of you may have done it in your own time on rivers around the world.
Starter: Watch the video to the right hand side. Task 5 - Note taking (on the following) Rapids are sections of rough turbulent (white water). They are normally in a river's upper course and are formed when you get layers of hard and soft rock. The layers of soft rock erode quicker than the layers of hard rock. This makes the bed of the river uneven creating rough turbulent water. Rapids can become popular with tourists who want to raft down them. Some of the most popular rafting rivers are the Nile in Uganda and the Zambezi in Zimbabwe. Task 6 - Make a copy of the the right hand side of the diagram to the right to show how bands of hard and soft rock cause rapids. |
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Pothole Formation You have perhaps heard of potholes in roads and have certainly felt one as you have been driven over them in your car. However, they also exist in the bed of a river and are formed over time. Starter: Take a look at this video from 'Time for Geography' Task 1 - Using this site and your own research, create a mini factsheet that details how they form and what factors determine how fast or slowly they develop. |
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Middle Course Of La Garonne
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Objective: To learn about the features associated with the middle course of the river Garonne.
Task 1 - Watch the video to the right and study the sequence diagram below. Then: a. Visit the embedded map underneath and find a place marker that identifies a meander on the Garonne. b. Zoom right in and change the view to Satellite c. Take a screen shot of the image and annotate it with the information from fig 1.16 on page 12 of the book. d. Underneath your screen shot, draw a sketch that shows a cross-section through a meander and label. **Don't have the OCR B Textbook, use the diagram below to help you out. Task 2 - Carry out the same instructions above but for an Ox-Bow lake. You will need to add further annotations to fig 1.17 to show why the lake forms. This link will help you out. 
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View River Garonne - Upper, Middle & Lower Course. in a larger map
Lower Course Of La Garonne
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Objective: To learn about the features associated with the lower course of the river Garonne.
Task 1: i. Watch a few seconds of the video to the right and then cast your mind back to the Google Street View image of the source of the Garonne. There have been some major changes. ii. List down the top three differences you see when you compare both. iii. Using the map embedded above, find a suitable Google Maps (satellite view) of the mouth of the Garonne and take a screen shot. Annotate it (like the meanders & oxbow lakes) with theory information from page 13 of the OCR B textbook or check here to show features and formations. Task 2 - Click here to be taken to the geographyalltheway section on floodplains and Levées. Complete the worksheet before printing it out and placing into your Geography folder. No access to GATW? Click here and scroll down to the information on floodplains & levees. Make notes on the formation of both fluvial features and compliment this with an image or diagram of each to help with your revision later. |
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What are deltas & how do they form?
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Complete this work on the second side of the A3 sheet for the lower course of a river - see section above.
Deltas: When a river meets the sea its velocity suddenly reduces. Flocculation, combined with a reduction in velocity means that much of the rivers load is deposited at the mouth of the river. If the river deposits quicker than the sea can erode then a delta starts to develop. Deposition can mean that the main river channel gets blocked, forcing the water to find alternative routes to the sea by making distributaries. Deltas have very fertile soil and tend to be excellent for farming. There are three types of delta; arcuate, cuspate and bird's foot. Distributary: A distributary is a small river or stream that breaks off from the main river in deltas. Flocculation: This is the process of particles (load/sediment) joining together. Salt can cause flocculation, so when freshwater meets the sea (saltwater) particles are likely to flocculate. If they flocculate they become heavier and are more likely to be deposited. Task 1 - Click here to access the geographyalltheway.com section on Deltas. Download and complete the worksheet using the resources available.
No access to GATW? Click here and scroll down to the information on deltas & levees. Make a note of each of both types of delta and then find an image before annotating around the main features. For Task 6 on the worksheet, you will need to listen to the 6-minute podcast at the top of this webpage. Review Task - Exam Practice Explain the change in the shape and characteristics of a named river as it travels from source to mouth (7) Named Example: Garonne (note, no delta) |
The Nile delta, Egypt. Water brings life!
The impacts of climate induced sea level rise on the Nile delta.
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Did you know?
The length of the Nile River is approximately 6,850 kilometers.
The Nile is an international river as its water resources are shared by eleven countries, namely, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo-Kinshasa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan and Egypt.
The drainage basin of the Nile encompasses about 10 percent of the area of Africa.
The Nile River’s average discharge is about 300 million cubic meters per day.
Task 1 - Complete the A3 summary sheet below using the clues around the map and this National Geogaphic article to highlight the opportunities that rivers (such as the Nile) bring to people.
The length of the Nile River is approximately 6,850 kilometers.
The Nile is an international river as its water resources are shared by eleven countries, namely, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo-Kinshasa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan and Egypt.
The drainage basin of the Nile encompasses about 10 percent of the area of Africa.
The Nile River’s average discharge is about 300 million cubic meters per day.
Task 1 - Complete the A3 summary sheet below using the clues around the map and this National Geogaphic article to highlight the opportunities that rivers (such as the Nile) bring to people.
Task 2 - Now watch the video below and make notes on the back of the Task 1 sheet to explain why Egypt is running out of water. Focus in particular on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and what this means for Egypt.
RSA Animated Videos
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Objective: To create a 2 minute animated RSA video to answer the following question.
How do physical processes and relief change the shape and functioning of the River Garonne as it travels from source to mouth? Starter: Watch these great RSA videos produced by Y10 students at the Priory School in Portsmouth this week. Their work was on factors affecting development (like you in Y10), but you get the idea. Note: The filming was done first and then sped up. The narration was then added later using a script. Resources: 1 x Camera + Stand 1 x Marker Pen 1 x A2 Paper Movie Maker for narration. Getting Started: Look carefully at the first four slides of the embedded presentation below. This was used by the Y10 group and made by their teacher, Mr Rogers. Part 1 - Decide on an introduction to the task. Part 2 - Split your animation into three stages (upper, middle, lower course) and think how you are going to show the processes and resultant features at each stage. Part 3 - The conclusion. Answer the question and wrap up the video with a clear summary of your production.
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Thanks to Mr Rogers and Priory School in Portsmouth - Great effort!
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Thanks to Noel Jenkins and David Rogers for blog posts and allowing me to use their examples on this site. Always great to have examples of good practice for students to see.
