The Upper Course of a river

V shaped valleys

Explain the formation of a v-shaped valley (4 marks with extra space)

Explaining landforms as a sequence.......just as following a

recipe!

Sequencing

1 – Start with the “ingredients” for the landform

» 2 – Explain the processes (“the method”) in the right order so you don't get your landform “recipe” wrong!

» 3 – The resulting landform (finished product. A nice freshly baked cake!)

The written version (recipe)

Start V-shaped valleys are found with rivers in the upper course with high amount of rainfall and steep gradients. Processes Vertical erosion is the main process and it erodes the channel downwards. Because of the vertical erosion erosion the valley sides are steep sided. Also, weathering and slopewash make slopes even steeper. There are often bands of hard rocks in the upper course. The river winds its way around the bands of hard rock. These are less eroded and form interlocking spurs. This results in the river channel being narrow and increase the v-shaped nature of the valley.

End product. Eventually a v-shaped valley is formed.

The written version (recipe)

1 V-shaped valleys are found with rivers in the upper course with high amount of rainfall and steep gradients. 2a Vertical erosion is the main process and it erodes the channel downwards. 2b because of the vertical erosion erosion the valley sides are steep sided. 3 Also, weathering and slopewash make slopes even steeper. 4 There are often bands of hard rocks in the upper course. 5a The river winds its way around the bands of hard rock. 5b These are less eroded and form interlocking spurs.

6 This results in the river channel being narrow and increase the v-shaped nature of the valley.

7 Eventually a v-shaped valley is formed.

Draw an labelled sketch to explain the formation of a v-shaped valley

(4 marks)