Characteristics of: the upper, middle and lower course of a river

?

Gradient for the upper, middle and lower course:

Upper course: steep

Middle course: quite steep

Lower course: shallow

1 of 7

Discharge for the upper, middle and lower course:

Upper course: small

Middle course: large

Lower course: very large

2 of 7

The depth for the upper, middle and lower course:

Upper course: shallow

Middle course: quite deep

Lower course: very deep

3 of 7

Channel shape for upper, middle and lower course:

Upper course: narrow with steep sides

Middle course: flat with steep sides

Lower course: flat floor with gentle slope sides

4 of 7

Velocity for the upper, middle and lower course:

Upper course: quite fast (slowest out of the 3 courses of a river)

Middle course: fast

Lower course: very fast

5 of 7

Valley shape of the upper, middle and lower course

Upper course: steep sides 

Middle course: flat with steep sides

Lower course: flat with gentle sloping sides

6 of 7

Features in the upper, middle and lower course:

Upper course: waterfalls and interlocking spurs

Middle course: floodplains and meanders

Lower course: meanders, floodplains, levees and ox-bow lakes

7 of 7

Comments

need_to_improve

Report

hope this helps :)

Similar Geography resources:

See all Geography resources »See all Water and rivers resources »