Study of Rivers - River Processes

Question 1

3 main river processes

Answer 1

1. erosion & weathering
2. transportation
3. deposition

Question 2

what is erosion

Answer 2

the process that wears away the river bed and banks, it also breaks up rocks that are carried by the river

Question 3

types of erosion

Answer 3

1. hydraulic action
2. abrasion
3. attrition
4. solution

Question 4

hydraulic action

Answer 4

This is the sheer power of the water as it smashes against the river banks. Air becomes trapped in the cracks of the river bank and bed, and causes the rock to break apart.

Question 5

abrasion

Answer 5

When pebbles grind along the river bank and bed in a sand-papering effect.

Question 6

attrition

Answer 6

When rocks that the river is carrying knock against each other. They break apart to become smaller and more rounded.

Question 7

solution

Answer 7

When the water dissolves certain types of rocks, eg limestone.

Question 8

what is transportation

Answer 8

when the river picks up sediment and carries it downstream in different ways

Question 9

types of transportation

Answer 9

1. traction
2. saltation
3. suspension
4. solution

Question 10

traction

Answer 10

large, heavy pebbles are rolled along the river bed. This is most common near the source of a river, as here the load is larger.

Question 11

saltation

Answer 11

pebbles are bounced along the river bed, most commonly near the source.

Question 12

suspension

Answer 12

lighter sediment is suspended (carried) within the water, most commonly near the mouth of the river.

Question 13

solution

Answer 13

the transport of dissolved chemicals. This varies along the river depending on the presence of soluble rocks.

Question 14

what is deposition

Answer 14

when the river loses energy and drops any of the material it has been carrying

Question 15

factors that lead to deposition

Answer 15

1. shallow water
2. at the end of the river’s journey, at the river’s mouth
3. when the volume of the water decreases