River Processes

• Hydraulic action: The force of water pushing against the rock face. Air becomes trapped in the cracks in the rock of the river bank and bed, and causes the rock to break apart. Type of erosion
• Attrition: Small particles are carried along by the current and collide with other rocks on the riverbed or banks. This breaks down larger stones into smaller ones. Type of erosion
• Abrasion: when pebbles are picked up by the flowing water and smash against the river bank and bed, wearing it away. Type of erosion
• Solution: when the water dissolves certain types of rock, eg limestone. Type of erosion
• Traction: when large heavy pebbles are rolled along the sea bed. Type of transportation
• Saltation: pebbles are bounced along the river bed. Type of transportation
• Suspension: lighter sediment/fine particles are carried within the water. Type of transportation
• Solution: transport of dissolved chemicals depending on the presence of solvents. type of transportation
• Deposition: occurs where there is less energy than required to move the material. The opposite of erosion.