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The Drainage BasinSystemPart 1

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What is a drainage basin?How does the drainage basin system operate?What is a flood hydrograph?What factors influence the shape of a flood hydrograph?

Key Questions

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CatchmentThe area from which water drains into a particular drainage basin.

Tributary A river which joins a larger river.

ConfluenceThe point at which two rivers join.

Watershed The boundary dividing one drainage basin from another; a ridge of high land.

SourceThe upland area where the river begins.

MouthWhere the river flows into the sea, or sometimes a lake.

What is a drainage basin?

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Do you know your drainage basin terminology?

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Watershed

Tributary

Confluence

A

B

C

SourceD

Match the label to the correct letter

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Catchment

Sketch the river showing its catchment. Add the following labels to your drawing: watershed, confluence, tributary.

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