River Work, Processes and Stages
The Work of Rivers
Rivers perform three types of work erosion, transportation and deposition.
Erosion refers to the removal, washing away or wearing away of weathered material (rocks and
soil) by agents such as wind, water and ice
Transportation refers to the ways by which a river carries material. The material that a river
carries is called the river’s load.
Deposition refers to the laying down of all or part of a rivers load. It occurs when a river does
not have enough energy to continue carrying its load either because the river slows down or the
amount of water in the river’s channel decreases. As a river begins to lose energy, the heavier
material is deposited first while the lighter material is carried farther.
Processes
A river erodes in four ways:
Abrasion or corrasion - This is when the bedload or material (stones, pebbles) being
transported by the river wear away the river banks and bed by knocking against it.
Attrition - This is when the bedload/material knock against each other and break up into
rounded and smaller pieces.
Hydraulic Action - This is when the force of the river /water loosens or removes material by
forcing its way into cracks and crevices. This cause air to be imprisoned or trapped in the rock
and expand overtime causing the rocks to shatter or break up.
Solution or corrosion - This is when the acidic water of the river dissolves rock particles. In
other words, it is the process where the chemical action of the water in the river dissolves
minerals in rocks thus weakening them and causing them to break up.
A river transport by four ways:
Suspension: This is where light and fine particles such as silt, mud and sand are carried within
the water unseen or submerged.
Saltation: This is where smaller solid particles of pebbles, gravel and sand are bounced along
and lifted up and carried by the river.
The Work of Rivers
Rivers perform three types of work erosion, transportation and deposition.
Erosion refers to the removal, washing away or wearing away of weathered material (rocks and
soil) by agents such as wind, water and ice
Transportation refers to the ways by which a river carries material. The material that a river
carries is called the river’s load.
Deposition refers to the laying down of all or part of a rivers load. It occurs when a river does
not have enough energy to continue carrying its load either because the river slows down or the
amount of water in the river’s channel decreases. As a river begins to lose energy, the heavier
material is deposited first while the lighter material is carried farther.
Processes
A river erodes in four ways:
Abrasion or corrasion - This is when the bedload or material (stones, pebbles) being
transported by the river wear away the river banks and bed by knocking against it.
Attrition - This is when the bedload/material knock against each other and break up into
rounded and smaller pieces.
Hydraulic Action - This is when the force of the river /water loosens or removes material by
forcing its way into cracks and crevices. This cause air to be imprisoned or trapped in the rock
and expand overtime causing the rocks to shatter or break up.
Solution or corrosion - This is when the acidic water of the river dissolves rock particles. In
other words, it is the process where the chemical action of the water in the river dissolves
minerals in rocks thus weakening them and causing them to break up.
A river transport by four ways:
Suspension: This is where light and fine particles such as silt, mud and sand are carried within
the water unseen or submerged.
Saltation: This is where smaller solid particles of pebbles, gravel and sand are bounced along
and lifted up and carried by the river.
