Rivers Theory
Water vapour,
transpiration,
evaporation,
rain and snow
(precipitation),
infiltration,
ground water,
water table,
lakes and
streams
Upper course
Long profile
Valley cross
section
Channel cross
section
Example of
landform
Middle course
Lower course
Interlocking spur
source
v shaped valley
valley side
interlocking spur
spur
channel
river bank
load
river bed
Answer the following questions in
full sentences:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
What is a levee?
Describe what a flood plain is.
What is a delta?
How does a delta form?
Why does a flood occur?
What human activities make flooding
worse?
7. Outline the ways in which rivers can be
managed.
Case Study - Bangladesh
Human
causes of
the floods
Physical
causes of
floods
Immediate
effects
Bangladesh
Later
effects
Flood
management
Bangladesh floods 2004
Pages 48 and 49
Copy out and fill in the answers below:
• The flat land within each flood plain is ______, and the country
is densely _______. As a result, floods on any of the _____
rivers can affect a vast number of people.
• When all of the rivers run high with monsoon rains and melting
snow from the ________ Mountains (the source of the rivers),
much of Bangladesh can be under water.
• ______ help make the cultivable land in Bangladesh fertile and
thus help the __________ sector of the country. But,
excessive flood is considered a calamity.
• The floods have caused havoc in Bangladesh throughout history,
especially during the recent years: 1987, 1988, and 1998. The
most recent one occurred in 2007.
• According to government statistics 76- people died and 35
million people were badly affected by it. 8.5 million people were
left homeless.
Agriculture, fertile, floods, three, populated, Himalaya
Bangladesh is built over the
flood plains of three major
rivers, the Brahmaputra,
Meghna, and Ganges Rivers.
The three rivers converge in
Bangladesh and empty into the
Bay of Bengal through the
largest river delta in the
world.
The top picture shows the
satellite taken on 12th
October 2005, while the one
below shows the same area on
September 19th 2005. Look
how much more water is in the
area in October.
Physical causes of floods
Human causes of floods
Immediate effects
Later effects
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
What are the short term solutions to flood management in
Bangladesh?
What are the long term solutions to flood management in
Bangladesh?
What do some people think Bangladesh really needs to avoid
flooding in the future?
Why do rivers flood? (2)
Outline ways in which rivers can be managed (4)
Explain how deforestation can lead to flooding. Refer to
a case-study area (6)
For a type of natural hazard you have studied, explain
how its damaging effects can be reduced (6)
Why does it often take a long time for LEDCs to
recover from floods? (6)
Flooding is often caused by a combination of physical
and human factors. Use examples to explain this
statement (6)
GCSE questions - rivers
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Why do rivers flood? (2)
Outline ways in which rivers can be managed (4)
Explain how deforestation can lead to flooding. Refer to
a case-study area (6)
For a type of natural hazard you have studied, explain
how its damaging effects can be reduced (6)
Why does it often take a long time for LEDCs to
recover from floods? (6)
Flooding is often caused by a combination of physical
and human factors. Use examples to explain this
statement (6)