Year 4

What is a system?
What is a river system?
What does it constitute?
Prior Knowledge Test

Complete it on the task sheet

What is
Hydrological Cycle?
• It also known as water cycle.
• It is a closed system (inputs and
outputs does not leave the
system)
Drainage Basin
A drainage basin is an area where
precipitation collects and then drains
into a river or sea.
It is part of Hydrological Cyle.
 Consequent Stream:
A stream following the
slope. Development of
slope may be due to
sudden tectonic uplift

Subsequent Stream:
A stream that develops later on,
carving the softer rocks and flow at
almost right angle to the original
slope of the land
 Hydrological Cycle
and Drainage Basin
• Inputs
• Movements or Flows
• Outputs

Identify the processes in the diagram.

 Recall
• What is a river system?
• Draw a diagram of the hydrological cycle.
Rivers are the most important
agent of erosion,
transportation and
deposition.
Three Subsystems of A River
• collecting system (branches): consisting of a network of
tributaries in the headwater region, collects and funnels
water and sediment to the mainstream.
• transporting system (trunk): the main trunk stream, which
functions as a channel way through which water and
sediment move from the collecting area toward the
ocean. (Erosion and deposition also occur in a river's
transporting system)
• dispersing system (roots): consists of a network of
distributaries at the mouth of a river (delta), where
sediment and water are dispersed into an ocean, a lake, or
a dry basin.
Processes in a River
The four ways of erosion:
• Hydraulic action — the power or energy of the
water takes the load (rocks/stones in the river)
down the channel
• Attrition — when the rocks/stones knock into
each other or into the bed and side of the
channel, they are broken down to be carried
away
• Abrasion or corrasion — fine materials, like sand,
rub against the bed or banks of the river, rather
like sandpaper rubbing and then wearing away
the river
• Corrosion — the rock dissolves and is carried
away.
Processes in a River
The four ways of transportation:
• Traction — when a large load is rolled
downstream by the energy of the water
• Saltation — when a smaller load is carried by the
water, but it is small enough for it to jump up
and down the river
• Suspension — when fine sand-like material floats
in the river (this makes the water look darker as
you go downstream)
• Solution - the dissolved load is transported down
as a solution, like sugar that has been dissolved
in water.
 Processes in a River

The third process in the river is deposition. This is when the river does not have enough
energy to transport the load anymore and therefore it is left, dumped or deposited.

Erosion, transportation and deposition goes hand in hand in a river and may happen all
together depending upon on the stage of the river.
River: Long and Cross Profile
 Recall
• Define an erosional and a transportational process.
• Draw a diagram of the river profile with all its
constituent parts.
Bradshaw Model
• River flows from source to mouth.
• The Bradshaw model shows how the river channel
changes from the source to the mouth. Natural
processes of erosion and transportation leads to
changes.
• As the water flows downstream, more water enters
the main channel from tributaries.
• As there is more water, there is more flow and
therefore more energy.
• With an increase in energy, or erosional power,
Slope angle (gradient) the river can change shape,
by getting wider and deeper.
• This also means that the load gets smaller in size
due to the power of erosion.
Riverine Landforms

[Link]
Riverine Landforms
Riverine Landforms
 Drainage Pattern
Dendritic • Irregular branching pattern (tree like) in many direction.
• It is common in massive rocks and in flat lying strata
• Due to strong resistance of rocks headward development of
valley is negligible.

Parallel • Parallel or sub-parallel drainage formed on sloping surface.

• Common in terrain with homogeneous rocks.
• Development of parallel rills, gullies or narrow channels are
commonly seen on gently sloping surface
Drainage Pattern
• Streams radiates out from the center of the topographic
high
• common in Volcanic terrain

• Channels marked by right-angle bends

• Commonly due to presence of joints and fractures in the
massive rocks or foliation in metamorphic rocks
Drainage Pattern
• Rectangular arrangement of channels in which principal
tributary streams are parallel and very long, like vines
trained on a trellis.
• This pattern is common in areas where the outcropping
edges of folded sedimentary rocks, both weak and resistant,
form long, nearly parallel belts.

• Streams follow nearly circular or concentric paths along

belts of weak rock that ring a dissected dome or basin
where erosion has exposed successive belts of rock of
varying degrees of erodibility.
 Recall
• Write one upstream and one downstream riverine
landform.
• Draw the diagram of a Dendritic Delta.
Hydrograph
A hydrograph is a chart showing the rate of
water flow (discharge) in a river or stream over
time, often used to analyze flood risk and water
availability.
• Rising Limb: The upward slope of the graph,
representing the increase in river discharge
after a rainfall event.
• Lag Time: The time delay between peak
rainfall and peak discharge, indicating how
quickly water reaches the river from the
surrounding land.
Hydrograph

• A short lag time means water enters the river

quickly, leading to a steep rising limb on the
hydrograph and a higher risk of flooding.
• Conversely, a long lag time signifies slower
water entry, resulting in a gentler rising limb
and reduced flood risk.
Activity

• Describe the two hydrographs.

• Explain why the two hydrographs are
different.
• State which hydrograph is more likely
to cause major flooding in the area.
Give reasons.
 Causes of Flooding
Natural Causes
• Prolonged or Heavy Rainfall: Extended periods of rain increase the amount of water in
the drainage basin and flowing into the river, leading to potential flooding. Intense
rainfall over a short period can cause rapid flash flooding.
• Rock Type or Geology: Permeable rocks, which have more pores or cracks, allow water
to percolate through, reducing runoff. Impermeable rocks cause water to run off into
rivers quickly, increasing flood risk.
• Gradient/Relief of the Land: Steep terrain facilitates faster runoff to rivers, reducing
infiltration into the soil and increasing flooding likelihood.
• Type of Vegetation: Vegetation intercepts rainfall, but areas with little or no
vegetation allow water to drain directly into rivers.
• Weather: Extended hot and sunny periods can dry out soil, making it behave like
tarmac. Subsequent storms cause rain to run off quickly into rivers, potentially causing
flash floods.
 Causes of Flooding
Human Causes:
Deforestation: Removal of trees reduces the
interception of rainfall.
Lack of Vegetation: Like deforestation, areas
without vegetation experience more direct runoff.
Urbanization: Development increases
impermeable surfaces, leading to more runoff.
Changing the River Channel Course: Modifications
like straightening rivers or cutting off meanders for
navigation reduce the river's capacity, increasing
the risk of flooding.