7.1.4

River Regimes

Test yourself

The Yukon

Different rivers experience different variation in discharge. The following factors affect flows of the Yukon:

Illustrative background for ClimateIllustrative background for Climate ?? "content

Climate

  • The Yukon River flows through Alaska.
    • Conditions in Alaska are highly variable across the seasons. In the winter, conditions are near polar, but temperatures soar in the summer.
  • The Yukon River flows through different types of climate including tundra and mountain.
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Seasonality

  • In winter, precipitation is frozen.
    • This causes the Yukon's flow to be low.
  • In summer, there is precipitation that does not freeze and also snowmelt of the winter’s precipitation.
    • This causes the Yukon's flow to be high.
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Human influence

  • As the area is a largely natural landscape, there is very little human influence on the river’s flow.

The Amazon

Different rivers experience different variation in discharge. The following factors affect flows of the Amazon:

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Climate

  • The Amazon River flows through the Amazon rainforest where the climate is tropical.
  • Although the Amazon has a relatively consistent high temperature and rate of precipitation, there is some seasonal precipitation that leads to a lower river discharge.
  • The temperature and high biodiversity lead to very high levels of evapotranspiration.
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Seasonality

  • Consistent temperatures and rainfall create a largely consistent river flow. Some lower rainfall in September and December leads to a lower river flow.
  • La Niña and El Niño years also produce changes in rainfall, which affects river discharge levels.
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Human influences

  • Deforestation affects interception, infiltration and surface runoff increasing the flow.
  • Large dams used by Brazilian cities for both hydroelectric power and irrigation can cause more discharge above the dam and a reduced flow below the dam.

The Murray-Darling

Different rivers experience different variation in discharge. The following factors affect flows of the Murray-Darling:

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Climate

  • The Murray-Darling is in Australia where the climate is seasonal sub-tropical.
  • Most of the Murray-Darling's basin is in a rain shadow.
  • This means that the basin is surrounded by mountains that collect most of the region's rain. This can cause periods of prolonged drought.
  • The tributaries to the north experience a monsoon climate, whilst the southern tributaries experience temperate climate.
  • There are wet (Aug-Nov) and dry (Jan-Apr) seasons that cause high and low river flows respectively.
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Seasonality

  • There is a high seasonal variability for the Murray-Darling’s discharge because of the clear wet and dry seasons.
  • The river is also impacted by the changes in rainfall patterns during La Niña and El Niño years.
  • La Niña brings cooler than normal sea surface temperatures and wetter weather to Australia.
  • El Niño brings the opposite; less rainfall.
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Human influence

  • Water is drawn from the Murray-Darling for use in Australia’s cities and also to irrigate farms.
  • The natural flow paths of the river have been altered for human access, which has led to loss of habitat for local animals and a decline in quality of water.

Jump to other topics

1Tectonic Processes & Hazards

1.1Tectonic Processes & Hazards

1.1.1Tectonic Plates

1.1.2Distribution of Tectonic Hazards

1.1.3Theoretical Frameworks

1.1.4Earthquakes

1.1.5Earthquake Hazards

1.1.6Volcanoes

1.1.7Tsunamis

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Tectonic Processes

1.1.9Exam-Style Question - Earthquakes

1.2Natural Disasters

1.2.1Introduction to Natural Disasters

1.2.2Impacts of Hazards

1.2.3Comparing Hazards

1.2.4Development & Governance

1.3Natural Disaster Case Studies

1.3.1Tohoku Earthquake & Tsunami

1.3.2Gorkha Earthquake

1.3.3Mount Merapi Eruption

1.4Trends & Patterns

1.4.1Disaster Trends

1.4.2Prediction

1.5Disaster Modification

1.5.1Hazard Management

1.5.2Modifications

1.5.3End of Topic Test - Natural Disasters

1.5.4Exam-Style Question - Disaster Modification

2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change

2.1Glaciated Landscapes Over Time

2.1.1Timeline of Glacial Change

2.1.2Natural Causes

2.1.3Ice Distributions

2.2Periglacial Landscapes

2.2.1Periglacial Processes

2.2.2Periglacial Landforms

2.3Glacial Processes

2.3.1Mass Balance

2.3.2Glacial Movement

2.4Glacial Landforms

2.4.1Landscapes

2.4.2Erosional Landforms

2.4.3Erosional Landforms 2

2.4.4Erosional Landforms 3

2.4.5Depositional Landforms

2.4.6Fluvioglaciation

2.5The Future of Glaciated Landscapes

2.5.1The Value of Glaciated Landscapes

2.5.2The Value of Glaciated Landscapes 2

2.5.3Threats to Glaciated Landscapes

2.5.4Managing the Threats to Glaciated Landscapes

3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change

3.1Coastal Landscapes

3.1.1The Wider Coastal Landscape

3.1.2Geological Structure

3.1.3Lithology & Vegetation

3.2Coastal Erosion & Deposition

3.2.1Shaping Coastlines

3.2.2Coastal Formations

3.2.3Sediment Transportation

3.2.4Subaerial Processes

3.3Coastal Risks

3.3.1Sea Level Change

3.3.2Coastal Retreat

3.3.3Coastal Flooding

3.4Managing Coastlines

3.4.1Consequences of Coastal Recession

3.4.2Engineering Management Approaches

3.4.3Governance Approaches

4Globalisation

4.1Globalisation

4.1.1Intro to Globalisation

4.1.2Development of Globalisation

4.1.3Economic Policy & Globalisation

4.1.4Government Policy & Globalisation

4.1.5International Organisations & Globalisation

4.1.6Measuring Globalisation

4.1.7TNCs & Globalisation

4.1.8TNCs - Aramco & Anglo-Iranian Oil

4.2Negatives of Globalisation

4.2.1'Switched Off' Places

4.3Global Shift

4.3.1Global Shift for Developing Nations

4.3.2Global Shift for Developing Nations 2

4.3.3Global Shift for Developed Nations

4.3.4End of Topic Test - Globalisation

4.4Migration

4.4.1Megacities

4.4.2International Migration

4.4.3Country Interdependence

4.5Culture

4.5.1Global Culture

4.5.2Cultural Erosion

4.6Measuring Development

4.6.1Measuring Development

4.7Responses to Globalisation

4.7.1Tensions Caused by Globalisation

4.7.2Government Control of Globalisation

4.7.3Ethical Responses to Globalisation

4.7.4End of Topic Test - Migration, Culture, & Response

5Option 4A: Regenerating Places

5.1Types of Economies

5.1.1Economic Activity

5.1.2Employment

5.1.3Economic Activity - Health & Life

5.1.4Economic Activity - Education & Inequality

5.2Function of Places

5.2.1Characteristics of Places

5.2.2Changes in Places

5.2.3International Influences on Places

5.2.4Historic Influences on Places

5.2.5The Perception of Places

5.2.6Lived Experience & Attachment

5.3Regeneration

5.3.1Migration & Capital

5.3.2Success & Regeneration

5.3.3Tensions & Conflict in Communities

5.3.4Regeneration in the UK

5.3.5Local Government Policies

5.3.6Regeneration Strategies

5.3.7Measuring Regeneration Success

5.4Regeneration Case Studies

5.4.1Stratford

5.4.2Salford Quays

5.4.3Croyde

6Option 4B: Diverse Places

6.1Population Structure

6.1.1The UK

6.1.2Population Characteristics

6.1.3Government & Change

6.2Past & Present Connections

6.2.1International Influence on Places

6.2.2Historic Influences on Places

6.2.3The Perception of Places

6.2.4Image & Identity

6.3Urban & Rural Spaces

6.3.1Perceptions of Urban Places

6.3.2Perceptions of Rural Places

6.3.3Evaluating Living Space

6.4Diversity

6.4.1UK Migrations

6.4.2Challenges

6.4.3Tensions & Conflict

6.4.4Wider Outcomes of Tensions

6.4.5Managing Tensions

6.5Urban & Rural Case Studies

6.5.1Stakeholders

6.6Case Study - Tower Hamlets

6.6.1Background

6.6.2Characteristics

6.6.3Issues

6.7Case Study - Sturton-le-Steeple

6.7.1Background

6.7.2Characteristics

6.7.3Issues

7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)

7.1Hydrological Processes Global to Local

7.1.1Global Hydrological Cycle

7.1.2Drainage Basin Hydrological Cycle

7.1.3Water Budgets

7.1.4River Regimes

7.1.5Storm Hydrographs

7.2Influences on the Water Cycle

7.2.1Causes of Drought

7.2.2Impacts of Drought

7.2.3Causes of Flooding

7.2.4Impacts of Flooding

7.2.5Climate Change & The Water Cycle

7.2.6Impacts of Climate Change

7.2.7End of Topic Test - The Water Cycle

7.3Water Insecurity

7.3.1Water Stress

7.3.2Causes of Water Insecurity

7.3.3Water Insecurity Risk

7.3.4Conflict Over Water

7.4Water Supply Management

7.4.1Hard Engineering Schemes

7.4.2Sustainable Management

7.4.3Water Treaties & Framework

7.4.4End of Topic Test - Water Insecurity & Management

8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)

8.1The Carbon Cycle

8.1.1Carbon Stores

8.1.2Carbon Stores 2

8.1.3Biological Carbon

8.1.4Atmospheric Carbon

8.1.5Burning Fossil Fuels

8.2Energy Consumption

8.2.1Consumption

8.2.2Access to Energy

8.2.3Energy Players

8.2.4Supply & Demand

8.2.5Pathways

8.2.6End of Topic Test - Carbon & Consumption

8.3Alternative Energy

8.3.1Unconventional Fuels

8.3.2Non-Fossil Fuels

8.3.3Non-Fossil Fuels 2

8.4Growing Demand for Resources

8.4.1Deforestation

8.4.2Water

8.4.3Climate Change

8.5The Future

8.5.1Future Uncertainty

8.5.2Adaptation Strategies

8.5.3Mitigation Strategies

9Superpowers (A2 only)

9.1Superpowers

9.1.1Introduction to Superpowers

9.1.2Superpowers - Economic Power & Size

9.1.3Superpowers - Political & Military Power

9.1.4Superpowers - Culture, Demography & Resources

9.1.5Geo-Strategic Location

9.2Hard & Soft Power

9.2.1Hard & Soft Power

9.2.2Emerging Powers - China Rivalry

9.2.3Emerging Powers - Chinese Sources of Power

9.2.4Emerging Powers - Brazil

9.2.5Emerging Powers - Russia

9.2.6Emerging Powers - India

9.2.7Theories of Development

9.2.8Power Case Studies: Chinese One Belt One Road

9.2.9Power Case Studies: Pakistan Nuclear Arms

9.2.10Power Case Studies: OPEC

9.3IGOs, TNCs & Alliances

9.3.1Superpowers & IGOs

9.3.2Superpowers & TNCs

9.3.3Superpowers & Global Action

9.3.4Superpowers & Alliances

9.3.5Superpowers & the Environment

9.4Changing Global Influence

9.4.1Recent Tensions between Powers

9.4.2China in Africa & Asia

9.4.3Tensions in the Middle East

9.4.4Economic Problems for Superpowers

9.4.5Future Pattern of Power

10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)

10.1Human Development

10.1.1Measuring Development

10.1.2Factors Improving Development

10.1.3Variations in Health

10.2Role of Governments & IGOs

10.2.1Targets & Attitudes

10.2.2Financial IGOs

10.2.3The United Nations (UN)

10.2.4The UN's MDGs & SDGs

10.3Human Rights

10.3.1Human Rights

10.3.2Differences Between Countries

10.3.3Transitions to Democracy

10.3.4Differences Within Countries

10.3.5The Demand for Equality

10.4Interventions

10.4.1Geopolitical Interventions

10.4.2International Intervention Players

10.4.3Evaluating Geopolitical Intervention

10.4.4Military Interventions

10.4.5Evaluating Military Interventions

10.5Development Aid

10.5.1Forms

10.5.2Successes

10.5.3Criticisms

10.5.4Development Aid & the Environment

10.5.5Evaluating Development Aid

10.5.6Economic Inequalities

11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)

11.1Globalisation & Migration

11.1.1Intro to Migration

11.1.2Trends in Migration

11.1.3Common Migration Patterns

11.1.4Causes of Migration

11.1.5Restrictions on Migration

11.2Consequences of Migration

11.2.1Intro to Culture

11.2.2Social & Demographic Tensions of Migration

11.2.3Political & Economic Tensions of Migration

11.3Nation States

11.3.1Intro to Nation States

11.3.2Borders

11.3.3Nationalism

11.4Responses to Global Migration

11.4.1Responses to Global Migration

11.4.2Global Organisations

11.4.3IGOs and World Trade

11.4.4Financial IGOs

11.4.5Environmental IGOs

11.5Sovereignty & Identity

11.5.1Sovereignty & Nationalism

11.5.2Complex Identities

11.5.3Challenges to National Identities

11.5.4Tensions within Nations

11.5.5Failed States

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Water Budgets

Storm Hydrographs