River Regimes River regime – shows pattern of river discharge over a long period, usually a year Important because they influence energy of a river, and therefore, processes and landforms Variations can be spatial or temporal

Temporal variations (over time) Short-term – following heavy rain, or snowmelt Medium-term – seasonal, eg less discharge when interception is high in a deciduous woodland in summer Long-term – eg as a result of climate change, or changes in land use

Spatial variations (between places) Mainly a result of variations in vegetation and climate… eg tropical rainforests, hot deserts, tundra regions

A river where a single rainstorm occurred A river fed by a glacier in summer A river in a region where there has been a long dry period and high PEVT A river where a heavy rainstorm was followed by a rainstorm of less intensity and duration

Match regimes to rivers Use an atlas to help you to locate the rivers on a world map Describe the likely climate for each of the four areas Explain the pattern shown in each of the regimes