GEOGRAPHY DICTIONERY
Mlungisi Zwelihle Gumede
Please note that this is not the work of the above editor but is a work of the unknown author.
Author: Unknown
EDITOR: M.Z Gumede
, Deposition- the process in which river drops its sediments.
Discharge- Amount of water flowing in a river channel past a point in a given
EDITED BY: MR M.Z GUMEDE time.
Distributary- A branch of river that flows away from the main stream.
GEORMORPHOLOGY Drainage basin- the area of land drained by a river and its tributaries, or the area
Abrasion- Particles of sand and silt that are carried by river scratch and wear of land from which a river system receives its water; also called a river basin.
away the bed and side of the channel. Drainage density- The total length of the river network.
Abstraction- process whereby the watershed becomes lower and its position shift. Drainage pattern- the pattern of the river network; it depends on the underlying
Alluvial fan- deposition as the river flows off the mountains to flatter plains. rock.
Elbow of capture- The right-angled bend in the captured stream that shows the
Alluvium- Fertile silt deposited by the river.
point capture.
Antecedent drainage pattern- After formed, folding or faulting occurred, but the
Episodic river- A river found in arid regions and which seldom flows.
river maintains its pattern, cutting the gorge through the land that has been lifted
Erosion- the wearing a way of rock and soil by water, ice, and or wind.
up.
Exotic river- A river that reflects the characteristics of its source, and not the
Base level- The lowest point to which a river can flow and erode-usually sea
region that its flows through.
level.
Floodplain- the wide, flat part of a valley over which a river spreads in times of
Base flow- Ground water that contributes to the river flow.
flood.
Braided streams- deposits of alluvium form an island in the middle of the
Fluvial landforms-Land forms formed by the actions of water.
channel, the river splits into separate channels.
Gorge- deep-sided valley.
Butte- An isolated hill with steep sides and small flat top.
Graded river- a river where equilibrium has been achieved between its gradient,
Captor stream/stream piracy- river that captures another river or steals water from
volume and channel shape, so that the river has sufficient energy to flow in the
another river.
balance with the deposition rates.
Captured/captive stream- less energetic river which was captured by the captor
Gradient- Measure the steepness and gentleness of the slope.
stream.
Ground water- water that is found underground collected on the earth surface
Carrying capacity- Amount of load that a river has energy to transport.
when rain water seeps into the soil.
Catchment Area- Area receiving rain, and supplying water to the river system.
Head ward-erosion- a river lengthens its course by cutting back upstream above
Centripetal drainage pattern- Streams flow into the central pan or low-lying area
its original course.
Channel flow- water flowing in the river channel.
Hydraulic action- the force of the flowing water loosening pebbles, stones, sand,
Cliff- A very steep vertical feature.
and silt from the side and bed of the river channel.
Confluence- the place where two rivers meet or join.
Impermeable rocks- do not have pore spaces or cracks through which water is
Contour- A line drawn on a map joining places of the same height above the sea
able to pass.
level{altitudes}
Incised meander- A meander that is cut deep into the landscape.
Contour interval- the height between contour lines, the number indicating
Ingrown meander- A meander that cut sideways into the bank so that there is
difference in height of the slope.
slight overhangs above the stream.
Cross-section- This is the drawn side view or profile of the landscape.
Interfluves- ridges or high ground between rivers.
Cubic- Unit that is used to measure the discharge of water in a river or stream, i.e
Knick point- a point in a rivers course that marks an old base level; the slope is
Mfingose River flow 2metre per cubic second.
gentle above and below the stream.
Delta- low, flat land formed by silt deposits at the river mouth.
Lag time- the time between heaviest rainfall and greatest discharge.
Dendritic pattern- A river pattern that look like the branches of tree, forms on a
Laminar flow- a smooth flow of water.
rock similar hardness in an area of similar gradient.
Mlungisi Zwelihle Gumede
Please note that this is not the work of the above editor but is a work of the unknown author.
Author: Unknown
EDITOR: M.Z Gumede
, Deposition- the process in which river drops its sediments.
Discharge- Amount of water flowing in a river channel past a point in a given
EDITED BY: MR M.Z GUMEDE time.
Distributary- A branch of river that flows away from the main stream.
GEORMORPHOLOGY Drainage basin- the area of land drained by a river and its tributaries, or the area
Abrasion- Particles of sand and silt that are carried by river scratch and wear of land from which a river system receives its water; also called a river basin.
away the bed and side of the channel. Drainage density- The total length of the river network.
Abstraction- process whereby the watershed becomes lower and its position shift. Drainage pattern- the pattern of the river network; it depends on the underlying
Alluvial fan- deposition as the river flows off the mountains to flatter plains. rock.
Elbow of capture- The right-angled bend in the captured stream that shows the
Alluvium- Fertile silt deposited by the river.
point capture.
Antecedent drainage pattern- After formed, folding or faulting occurred, but the
Episodic river- A river found in arid regions and which seldom flows.
river maintains its pattern, cutting the gorge through the land that has been lifted
Erosion- the wearing a way of rock and soil by water, ice, and or wind.
up.
Exotic river- A river that reflects the characteristics of its source, and not the
Base level- The lowest point to which a river can flow and erode-usually sea
region that its flows through.
level.
Floodplain- the wide, flat part of a valley over which a river spreads in times of
Base flow- Ground water that contributes to the river flow.
flood.
Braided streams- deposits of alluvium form an island in the middle of the
Fluvial landforms-Land forms formed by the actions of water.
channel, the river splits into separate channels.
Gorge- deep-sided valley.
Butte- An isolated hill with steep sides and small flat top.
Graded river- a river where equilibrium has been achieved between its gradient,
Captor stream/stream piracy- river that captures another river or steals water from
volume and channel shape, so that the river has sufficient energy to flow in the
another river.
balance with the deposition rates.
Captured/captive stream- less energetic river which was captured by the captor
Gradient- Measure the steepness and gentleness of the slope.
stream.
Ground water- water that is found underground collected on the earth surface
Carrying capacity- Amount of load that a river has energy to transport.
when rain water seeps into the soil.
Catchment Area- Area receiving rain, and supplying water to the river system.
Head ward-erosion- a river lengthens its course by cutting back upstream above
Centripetal drainage pattern- Streams flow into the central pan or low-lying area
its original course.
Channel flow- water flowing in the river channel.
Hydraulic action- the force of the flowing water loosening pebbles, stones, sand,
Cliff- A very steep vertical feature.
and silt from the side and bed of the river channel.
Confluence- the place where two rivers meet or join.
Impermeable rocks- do not have pore spaces or cracks through which water is
Contour- A line drawn on a map joining places of the same height above the sea
able to pass.
level{altitudes}
Incised meander- A meander that is cut deep into the landscape.
Contour interval- the height between contour lines, the number indicating
Ingrown meander- A meander that cut sideways into the bank so that there is
difference in height of the slope.
slight overhangs above the stream.
Cross-section- This is the drawn side view or profile of the landscape.
Interfluves- ridges or high ground between rivers.
Cubic- Unit that is used to measure the discharge of water in a river or stream, i.e
Knick point- a point in a rivers course that marks an old base level; the slope is
Mfingose River flow 2metre per cubic second.
gentle above and below the stream.
Delta- low, flat land formed by silt deposits at the river mouth.
Lag time- the time between heaviest rainfall and greatest discharge.
Dendritic pattern- A river pattern that look like the branches of tree, forms on a
Laminar flow- a smooth flow of water.
rock similar hardness in an area of similar gradient.
