River Processes Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to river processes, including erosion, transportation, and deposition.

Erosion

The main job of a river in its upper course, where the river bed is steepest and roughest.

Transportation

How a river moves material or its load, typically occurring in the middle part of the river.

Traction

When large stones are moved by the river current along the bed.

Saltation

When sand-sized particles are bounced along the bed in a leap-frog movement.

Suspension

When very small particles are carried with the water flow.

Solution

When minerals are dissolved in the water.

River Energy and Erosion/Transportation

When a river has more energy it erodes more and transports larger pieces of rock, especially during floods.

Deposition

When a river loses energy and leaves behind larger rocks on the bed of its channel.

Sediment

The deposited material as a river loses energy and drops its load.

River's Long Profile - Upper Course

Erosion is the main process.

River's Long Profile - Middle Course

Both erosion and deposition occur.

River's Long Profile - Lower Course

Deposition wins out as the river loses energy.

V-shaped valley

Result of the river eroding downwards in the upper course.

Floodplain

Forms where the river floods time after time, as the banks are eroded and the channel widens.