River processes

• What are river processes?

  Actions rivers take to shape the landscape
• What three actions do river processes include?

  Erosion, transportation, and deposition
• How do river processes affect landforms?

  They carve out and alter river valleys
• What is erosion in river landscapes?

  Wearing away of river banks and beds
• What are the four main processes of erosion in rivers?

  Hydraulic action, abrasion, solution, attrition
• What is hydraulic action?

  Force of water hitting river banks and beds
• What is abrasion in river erosion?

  Rocks and sediment grinding against river channel
• What is solution in river erosion?

  Dissolving of soluble rocks by water
• What is attrition in river erosion?

  Rocks hitting each other, becoming smaller
• How do erosion processes shape the landscape?

  They wear away the river channel and banks
• What are the four main transportation methods used by rivers?

  Suspension, solution, traction, saltation
• What is suspension in river transportation?

  Fine particles like clay float in water
• What is solution in river transportation?

  Dissolved minerals are carried in the water
• What is traction in river transportation?

  Large rocks and boulders roll along the river bed
• What is saltation in river transportation?

  Small stones bounce along the river bed
• How do different transportation methods depend on water velocity?

  They carry different sized materials based on velocity
• What causes deposition in rivers?

  Decrease in water's ability to carry materials
• What is deposition in river landscapes?

  When rivers drop the materials they've been carrying
• What are key conditions that cause deposition?

  Changes in velocity, gradient, and river path
• What happens when river velocity slows down?

  Heavier materials are deposited
• What occurs when the river gradient decreases?

  River loses energy, leading to deposition
• Where does deposition often occur in rivers?

  In lower river reaches
• How does a river's path affect deposition?

  Flowing around bends causes speed loss and deposition
• What landforms are formed by deposition?

  Deltas and floodplains
• How do erosion, transportation, and deposition interact?

  They work together in a continuous cycle
• What determines which river process dominates at different points?

  The river's velocity and energy
• What triggers erosion in rivers?

  High energy levels
• What triggers transportation in rivers?

  Moderate energy levels
• What triggers deposition in rivers?

  Low energy levels
• How do rivers use multiple transportation methods simultaneously?

  From boulders rolling to fine particles floating
• What are the main components of river processes?

  • Erosion: wearing away of banks and beds
  • Transportation: moving materials through various methods
  • Deposition: dropping materials when energy decreases
• How do erosion, transportation, and deposition shape river landscapes?

  • Erosion removes materials, altering the landscape
  • Transportation moves materials, influencing landforms
  • Deposition settles materials, forming new landforms
• What is the name of the erosional process where particles in water collide and break down?

  Attrition

  
• What is the term for the erosional process where sediment is carried and wears away a surface?

  Abrasion

  
• What are the main types of erosion shown in the image?

  • Attrition
  • Abrasion
  • Solution
  • Hydraulic action

  
• What is the name of the type of erosion where rocks and soil are dissolved by water?

  Solution

  
• What is the term used to describe when water forces its way into cracks to erode the bank?

  Hydraulic action

  
• What is suspension?

  Fine material such as clay and sediment is carried by the river

  
• What is solution?

  Dissolved minerals are carried by the river

  
• What is traction?

  • Large boulders and pebbles are rolled along the river bed