EXTENDING YOUR KNOWLEDGE

These questions are more general than the Interactive computer corrected questions. In fact, many of the questions may not have one correct answer. The purpose of these questions is to provide the users of the RAK with an opportunity to evaluate and apply their understanding of river structure and physical processes.

In order to answer these questions you can return to the material in the main text to review information on each topic, you can get some ideas about the answer by discussing the issues they raise with some of your colleagues, or you can utilize the RAK web site and Bulletin Board to get help from other RAK users or from one of the content experts that participated in the development of the RAK.

1. Describe the processes that are responsible for the formation of a delta. Explain the ecological importance of salt water intrusions in the delta, and its influence on agriculture.

2. Discuss the inter-relationships between the flood pulse, river flow, the building of leves and flood plain soils.

3. Identify and describe three main physical processes that influence the ecology of the Mekong River basin.

4. Describe the types of water bodies that are found on the flood plain and explain why they are an important component of river ecology. What ecological consequences would you expect to occur if these water bodies were filled in for agricultural purposes?

5. Describe some of the important physical features found in the headwaters, middle and lower zones of the Mekong and other rivers, and explain how these different physical features influence human use of the river.