River processes and the hydrological cycle
Abrasion
The movement of water after a storm
across the surface of the ground. It is
the fastest way in which water
reaches a river.
Throughflow
Graph showing how the discharge of a
river varies with time.
Attrition
The process by which material too
heavy to be carried in suspension is
transported by bouncing along the
riverbed.
Run-off
(overland run-off)
Water that falls to the earth from the
atmosphere as part of the hydrological
cycle. This will include rain, snow,
sleet, hail, dew, and frost etc.
Evapotranspiration
The movement of water through
rock.
Evaporation
The combined loss of water by
evaporation and transpiration.
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River processes and the hydrological cycle
Transpiration
Small sized materials, such as clay and
silt, which are suspended in the
turbulent flow of a river.
Discharge
The movement of water into the soil.
Precipitation
The erosive force exerted by the
pressure of the water. This erodes
river banks, particularly on the outer
curve of meanders and at waterfalls.
Groundwater flow
A type of erosion in which rock
fragments carried by a river erode the
river’s bed and sides.
Interception
The loss of water from plants by
evaporation.
Saltation
The process where large sized
materials are transported by a rolling
or sliding action along the riverbed.
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River processes and the hydrological cycle
Suspension
The water which travels through the
soil towards a river or the sea.
Hydrograph
The volume of water passing a certain
point per unit of time. It is usually
measured in cubic metres per second
(cumecs).
Hydraulic action
The process where precipitation does
not reach the soil, but is stopped by
impermeable surfaces e.g. tarmac
roads, the leaves and branches of
trees and plants and by leaf litter on
the forest floor etc.
Traction
The process by which liquid water
becomes water vapour.
Solution
The process by which transported
particles of rock become rounded and
smaller by being knocked against one
another.
Infiltration
The process by which the minerals in
a rock, especially calcium ions, are
dissolved in acidic water. It is a type
of erosion and weathering.
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River processes and the hydrological cycle
Teaching notes
This resource could be used in a variety of ways depending on the ability of the class. If the cards
are laminated, they could then be reused many times.
Possible approaches could be:

Separate the cards into 36 individual cards and then match the shaded key word(s) to the
correct definition.

Separate the cards into 18 paired cards. Use these cards as a dominoes game.

Separate the cards into 18 paired cards. Use these as a loop game around the class. The
loop game could be repeated against the clock after reissuing the cards, to measure
progress.
Answers
Abrasion
A type of erosion in which rock fragments
carried by a river erode the river’s bed and
sides.
Attrition
The process by which transported particles of
rock become rounded and smaller by being
knocked against one another.
Discharge
The volume of water passing a certain point per
unit of time. It is usually measured in cubic
metres per second (cumecs).
Evaporation
The process by which liquid water becomes
water vapour.
Evapotranspiration
The combined loss of water by evaporation and
transpiration.
© www.teachitgeography.co.uk 2012
17507
Page 4 of 6
River processes and the hydrological cycle
Groundwater flow
The movement of water through rock.
Hydraulic action
The erosive force exerted by the pressure of
the water. This erodes river banks, particularly
on the outer curve of meanders and at
waterfalls.
Hydrograph
Graph showing how the discharge of a river
varies with time.
Infiltration
The movement of water into the soil.
Interception
The process where precipitation does not reach
the soil, but is stopped by impermeable surfaces
e.g. tarmac roads, the leaves and branches of
trees and plants and by leaf litter on the forest
floor etc.
Precipitation
Water that falls to the earth from the
atmosphere as part of the hydrological cycle.
This will include rain, snow, sleet, hail, dew, and
frost etc.
Run-off
(overland or surface run-off)
The movement of water after a storm across
the surface of the ground. It is the fastest way
in which water reaches a river.
Saltation
The process by which material too heavy to be
carried in suspension is transported by
bouncing along the riverbed.
Solution
The process by which the minerals in a rock,
especially calcium ions, are dissolved in acidic
water. It is a type of erosion and weathering.
© www.teachitgeography.co.uk 2012
17507
Page 5 of 6
River processes and the hydrological cycle
Suspension
Small sized materials, such as clay and silt, which
are suspended in the turbulent flow of a river
Traction
The process where large sized materials are
transported by a rolling or sliding action along
the riverbed.
Transpiration
The loss of water from plants by evaporation.
Throughflow
The water which travels through the soil
towards a river or the sea.
© www.teachitgeography.co.uk 2012
17507
Page 6 of 6