15 April 2023

River Processes – Long Profile

L.O.To draw a long profile of a river and explain changes in flow, channel shape and channel roughness.

Upper Course

Middle Course

Lower Course

Task…• Draw a sketch of a long profile of a

river.• Add sketch's to show how the

channel cross-section changes. • Annotate to show how the following

change along the profile.– Type of flow– Channel Shape – hydraulic radius/

efficiency– Channel Roughness

Can you answer the following questions??

1. What conditions cause turbulent flow in a river?2. How do you calculate the hydraulic radius of a

river channel?3. How do you work out the efficiency of a channel?4. What is the efficiency of a channel dependent

on? 5. What impact does channel roughness have on

the flow of water in a channel?6. What does Manning’s formula show and how is it

measured?

Useful websites….

http://thebritishgeographer.weebly.com/river-processes.html

http://www.acegeography.com/valley-profiles.html