Describe the formation of river terraces:
The river Thames has flowed more or less on its present course since ice age that began ½ million years ago- temperature changes have led to advance and retreat of ice sheets and sea level changes
Past sea level changes affected the power of the Thames to erode.
When the sea level fell the river gained energy because it had to drop further to sea level and eroded downwards into its old floodplain (REJUVENATION)
Sea level rose so the river lost its energy and began to deposit material on the floodplain
This occurred each ice age - so each time it was rejuvenated it formed a new floodplain at a lower level.