River Processes

River Processes

1. Erosion

   • Abrasion
     • Sandpaper Action
       • Rock scrape against the channel, wearing it away.
       • Most erosion occurs this way
   • Attrition
     • Eroded materials smash against each other, breaking pieces off.
       • Edges get rounded off.
   • Solution
     • River water dissolves some rock, such as chalk and limestone
   • Hydraulic Action
     • The force of the water breaks particle of rocks off the river channel

2. Deposition

   • Occurs when the river loses velocity.
     • Volume of water falls.
     • Amount of eroded materials increases.
     • When water is shallower
     • When the river reaches the mouth.

3. Transportation

   • Solution
     • Soluble materials are carried along when they are dissolved by the water
   • Suspension
     • small, undissolved particles are carried along on the water. This makes the water look dirty
   • Traction
     • This is when large rocks are rolled by the force of the water. they are too large to be carried or dissolved.
   • Saltation.
     • When relatively large particles of rock are bounced along the botom of the river. these are too large to be dissolved or suspended

4. There are three main processes that take place in a river, These are they.