Erosional processes Flashcards
What is erosion?
Erosion is the process which wears away the river bed or bank and breaks up the rocks carried by the river
What is hydraulic action?
Hydraulic action is the sheer power of water smashing against the river bed or bank. Air becomes trapped in the cracks in the rock of the river bank and bed, and causes the rock to break apart.
What is attrition?
Attrition is when rocks hit against each other. The break apart and become more rounded
What is abrasion?
Abrasion is when rocks are picked up by the flowing river and smashed against the river bed or bank wearing it away
What is solution?
when the water dissolves certain types of rock, eg limestone.
What is deposition?
When the river loses energy, it drops any of the material it has been carrying.
What does the term ‘load’ mean?
The particles of rock carried by the river
