River Erosion and Transportation Processes

Rivers are the primary agents of erosion, transportation, and deposition on the Earth's surface. The amount of erosion and load carried by a river depends on factors like its slope, water volume, and channel shape. Rivers erode through abrasion, hydraulic action, attrition, and solution. They transport material as traction along the river bed, saltation where particles bounce, suspension where particles are held up by turbulence, and in solution dissolved in the water. Deposition occurs when the river can no longer carry its load, with larger particles deposited first in areas of reduced speed like inside river bends. A river system develops from small headwater streams joining to form larger rivers and tributaries. The long profile of a river progresses from

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River Erosion and Transportation Processes

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Monique

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 Rivers are the most widespread agents of denudation and deposition.

 The amount of erosion, transportation and deposition of the river is dependent on the
energy of the river which in turn is dependent on:
o The gradient of the slope
o The volume of water
o The shape of the channel
 Generally, the volume of the river increases from the source to the mouth. Exceptions
may be such as when the river passes through a hot desert.

River Erosion
 River erosion involves 4 processes:
1. Abrasion/Corrasion: The wearing away of the sides and the bed of a river by the
impact of the load.
2. Hydraulic Action: Erosion by the force of moving water.
3. Attrition: The breaking down of the load by particles hitting against each other.
4. Solution/Corrosion: When minerals dissolve in water.

River Transport
 The material a river carries is referred to as its load.
 A river transports its load in 4 main ways:
1. Traction: The rolling of huge particles along the bed.
2. Saltation: The bouncing of particles on the bed of the river
3. Suspension: The movement of particles held up by river turbulence.
4. Solution: The movement of particles dissolved in water.

River Deposition
 Deposition takes place when a river has insufficient energy to transport its load. It takes
place at all stages of a river.
 Larger particles are deposited first.
 Deposition is greatest in the lower course of a river. It is also greater during floods.
 Deposition will occur when the speed of a river is reduced. This may happen in:
o areas with a sudden increase in gradient
o the inside of meanders
o places where the river enters a sea/lake.

The Development of a River Transport System

 Surface run-off forms small streams.
 These streams join together to form larger streams.
 These larger streams join to form a river.
 The junction of 2 streams is called the confluence. When a smaller flow joins a larger
flow it’s called a tributary.

The Long Profile of a River

Youthful Stage-Upper Course Mature Stage-Middle Course Old Stage-Lower Course

 Vertical and headward  Vertical and lateral  Deposition

erosion erosion  Flood plains
 Gorges  Meanders  Ox-bow lakes
 Potholes  River Cliffs  Levees
 Plunge pools  Interlocking spurs  Deltas
 Waterfalls  Bluffs  Raised Banks
 Rapids  River capture  Rejuvenation
 Braided River
 Deferred tributaries

River Erosion and Transportation Processes

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River Erosion and Transportation Processes

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 Rivers are the most widespread agents of denudation and deposition.

The Development of a River Transport System

The Long Profile of a River

 Vertical and headward  Vertical and lateral  Deposition

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