River Processes

Understand the different types of erosion in a river & the different features along the course of a river

A river is split into three stages

Types of erosion
Erosion and Transportation

THE FOUR MAIN FORMS OF RIVER EROSION

Hydraulic action

- the force of the river pounding against the banks causes air to be trapped in cracks and crevices. Pressure weakens the banks and gradually wears it away.

Abrasion / Corrasion

- rocks carried along by the river scrape and wear down the river bed and banks.

Attrition - rocks being carried by the river smash

together and break into smaller, smoother and rounder particles.

Solution - soluble particles are dissolved into the

river

Transportation

The four river TRANSPORT PROCESSES

Solution - minerals are dissolved in the water and carried along in solution. Suspension - fine light material is carried along in the water. Saltation - small pebbles and stones are bounced along the river bed. Traction - large boulders and rocks are rolled along the river bed

Rivers need energy to transport material, and levels of energy change as the river moves from source to mouth.

When energy levels are very high, large rocks and boulders can be transported. Energy levels are usually higher near a river's source, when its course is steep and its valley narrow. Energy levels rise even higher in times of flood. When energy levels are low, only small particles can be transported (if any ). Energy levels are lowest when velocity drops as a river enters a lake or sea (at the mouth).

Label your photos with the answers to the following questions

How steep are the slopes? How wide is the channel? What is the bed load like? What are these? Where has most of the erosion happened here? How fast is the water moving?

Upper-course river features include: steep-sided V-shaped valleys, interlocking spurs, rapids, Waterfalls gorges. These are all features formed by EROSION!

V-shaped valley

Rapids

Waterfall

Gorge

Formation of Waterfalls and Gorges

Using the above sequence to help, can you explain how waterfalls form? Use the following words somewhere in your answer: Hard Rock Soft Rock Undercutting Plunge pool Erosion

Can you put these in the correct order in which a V-shape valley is formed?

V-shape valley formation

This vertical erosion deepens the valley, making the sides steeper and exposed. As the small stream flows steeply downhill, the bedload erodes downwards and scrapes away the bottom of the channel (vertical erosion) Over time, weathering and gravity wear away the steep valley sides, forcing material into the stream, which it uses to cut the valley deeper. A small stream will naturally follow small depressions in the landscape.

V-shape valley formation

CORRECT ORDER
1. A small stream will naturally follow small depressions in the landscape. 2. As the small stream flows downhill steeply, the bedload will erode downwards and scrape away the bottom of the channel (vertical erosion) 3. This vertical erosion deepens the valley, making the sides steeper and exposed. 4. Over time, weathering and gravity wear away the steep valley sides, forcing material into the stream, which it uses to cut the valley deeper.