Fluvial Processes and River Erosion

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to fluvial processes and river erosion as outlined in the lecture notes.

Base Level

The lowest elevation to which a stream can erode, defined by the elevation of the outlet, such as sea-level or a local pond.

Fluvial Erosion

The removal of material from a river bed, involving processes including abrasion, plucking, and dissolution of soluble rocks.

Headward Erosion

The process of erosion that extends a river channel upstream, often leading to the deepening of channels.

Net Removal of Mass

Occurs when the sediment outflow (sedout) exceeds the sediment inflow (sedin) in a river system.

Incision

The downcutting of river channels, resulting in a deeper riverbed at the site of erosion.

Sediment Sources

Sources of river sediment, including deposits from hillslopes, erosion of valley floor deposits, inputs from tributaries, and bedrock erosion.

Abrasion

The process of wearing away rocks through friction caused by moving particles in the water.

Plucking

The process of lifting and removing larger rocks from the riverbed, requiring higher energy than abrasion.

Dissolution

The process by which soluble rocks are dissolved in water, contributing to erosion.

River Re-adjustments

Changes in river dynamics caused by variations in base level, leading to either deposition or erosion.