Rivers Flashcards
Solution
Minerals are dissolved in the water and carried along in solution (found in any course
Suspension
Fine light material is carried along in the water (found in the middle or lower as there isn’t enough energy to carry it in the upper course)
Saltation
Small pebbles and stones are bounced along the river bed ( mainly found in the middle or upper course as it doesn’t need o be picked up)
Traction
Large boulders and rocks are rolled along the river bed (will be mostly dominant in the upper course as the river doesn’t have enough energy to carry it). Hasn’t been dissolved to in the upper course. Not much energy in upper course and large bed load leads to traction.
Deposition
Dropping material due to a lack of energy
Abrasion/corrasion
The bed and banks are worn down by the rivers load.
Attrition
The load carried by the river bump into each other and so are smoothed and broken down into smaller particles as it goes through the courses
Corrosion/solution
Chemical action of river water slowly dissolving the river bed and banks
Hydraulic action
The force of water against the bed and banks
Headward erosion (waterfalls)
Moves waterfall upstream because erosion wears at the soft rock underneath the hard rock. Then the hard rock is left on an overhang causing it to fall into a plunge pool.
Slip off slope
Where deposition occurs
Thalweg
Line of fastest flow
Meanders
Bends in the river found in the middle course
Inner bend
Where deposition occurs as slow moving water is found there making it shallower. Inner bend found here.
Outer bend
A lot deeper than inner bend due to erosion. Steep river cliff as erosion erodes the bed and banks. The outer bend is where the fastes flowing water is found. The erosion widens the river.
