The

Long

Profile

Long Profile

Middle Course

Upper Course

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Lower Course

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upper course

middle course

lower course

The upper course is typified by v-shaped valleys. The river usually occupiesmost of the narrow valley floor. Vertical erosion creates the v-shaped valleys. 

Mostly verticle erosion - hydraulic and attrition  Mainly large boulders  (bedload) are transported (usually  following significant  precipitation). Some suspension and  solution. Large bedload deposited 

Landforms

Uneven, steep river bed, rapids, waterfalls,  large boulders. 

Processes

Typical Profile

The middle course is typified by the valley becoming wider. This is due to the increase in lateral erosion. Flood plains are common. 

Middle Course

Lateral erosion begins, verticle erosion reduces, mostly attrition with  some hydraulic Traction & suspendedload increases. Somesolution.  Deposition on slip off slopes. 

small meanders,  small flood plain,  rapids.

Erosion limited mainlyto lateral erosion on the outside of meanders  Small bed load (gravel,sand and some pebbles). Most material transported in suspension.  Mostly small particlesdeposited. Levées andslip off slopes formed. 

Levées, large  meanders, floodplain

The lower course of the river tends to be very wide. Large scale depositionoccurs here due to the reduced competence of a river. This part of the river  can be tidal. Rivers tend to carry a large amount of sediment at this stage. 

Lower Course