What Is The Cross Profile Of A River?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

The cross profile of a river shows

how the width and depth of the river valley and channel change as you travel downstream

. Near the source of a river there is more vertical erosion as the river flows downhill, using its energy to overcome friction (A). … The sediment in the river creates turbulence and friction.

What does the cross profile of a river show?

The cross profile of a river shows

how the width and depth of the river valley and channel change as you travel downstream

. Near the source of a river there is more vertical erosion as the river flows downhill, using its energy to overcome friction (A). … The sediment in the river creates turbulence and friction.

What are the long profile and cross profile of a river?


The average flow velocity of a river increases along its long profile

. This makes sense; along the profile, more potential energy is converted to kinetic energy, increasing the velocity. This is only the average velocity however; a cross-section of a river shows that the velocity varies from one side to the other.

How do you describe the cross-section of a river?

A cross profile shows a cross-section of a river’s channel and

valley at a certain point along the river’s course

. A – as the river flows downhill there is an increase in vertical erosion . The channel is shallow and narrow because there is not a lot of water in the channel. … The channel is wider and deeper as a result.

What’s the profile of a river?

river profile

The slope along the bed of a river

, expressed as a graph of distance-from-source against height. In detail it is typically compound, with the profiles of individual segments reflecting the local rock types.

What is a slice across a river called?

A slice across the river is called what?

Cross profile

.

Why is a river wider at its mouth than at its source?

It’s well known that

rivers increase in size

as they transport water from their source in their headwaters to the mouth. The river channel becomes wider and deeper and as a result its cross-sectional area increases. … As we track the river downstream bedload becomes much smaller and smoother.

What is transversal profile?

Transverse profiles runs

deletion method, planimetric and altimetric

lifting the details (geometric leveling), the direction perpendicular to the axis of the communication path, starting from the characteristic points marked on the ground, in the center of the track, which are found in longitudinal profile.

How would you describe a long profile of a river?

The long profile of a river shows

changes in the height (altitude) of the course of a river from its source to its mouth

. A long profile is usually concave and the slope becomes more gentle towards the mouth of the river. Long profiles usually have irregularities such as waterfalls or lakes.

How is a waterfall formed?

Often, waterfalls form

as streams flow from soft rock to hard rock

. This happens both laterally (as a stream flows across the earth) and vertically (as the stream drops in a waterfall). In both cases, the soft rock erodes, leaving a hard ledge over which the stream falls.

How rejuvenation affects the cross profile of rivers?

It causes the river to erode its bed vertically to achieve equilibrium with the slope of the landscape. …

When sea levels fall

, eustatic rejuvenation affects the mouth of the river, and the river erodes it’s way back towards its source, creating waterfalls, rapids and incised meanders.

What is river efficiency?

• The efficiency of a rivers channel is measured by finding its Hydraulic radius. It is

the ratio between the length of wetted perimeter and cross section of a river channel

. • Wetted perimeter: the entire length of the riverbed bank and sides in contact with water.

What type of erosion makes a river deeper?


Vertical erosion

makes a river channel deeper. This happens more in the upper stages of a river (the V of vertical erosion should help you remember the V-shaped valleys that are created in the upper stages). Lateral erosion makes a river wider. This occurs mostly in the middle and lower stages of a river.

What is a middle course of a river?

The middle course of a river is found on gently sloping land, and is typically identified by

its meandering path – the sweeping side to side curves

. The middle course has two main features – meanders and ox-bow lakes.

What are the characteristics of the upper course of a river?

Upper course river features include

steep-sided V-shaped valleys, interlocking spurs, rapids, waterfalls and gorges

. Middle course river features include wider, shallower valleys, meanders, and oxbow lakes.

Where does a river start?

The place where a river begins is called

its source

. River sources are also called headwaters. Rivers often get their water from many tributaries, or smaller streams, that join together. The tributary that started the farthest distance from the river’s end would be considered the source, or headwaters.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.