River Processes

Front 1

Abrasion

Back 1

Rocks wear way the river bed and banks

Front 2

Attrition

Back 2

Rocks in the river bed collide with rocks flowng in the river and break off to join it

Front 3

Hydraulic Action

Back 3

Water in the river wears away the river bed and banks

Front 4

Corrision/Solution

Back 4

Small particles in the river bed such as soluble rocks, sedimentary and chemicals dissolve into the water

Front 5

Suspension

Back 5

Small rocks and light, fine substances are carried along by the river without hitting the river bed

Front 6

Saltation

Back 6

Small stones and pebbles collide with each other and are bounced along the river bed

Front 7

Bedload/Traction

Back 7

Large round-shaped sedimentary, such as boulders and large rocks are rolled accross the river bed, whilst large flat-shaped sedimentary, such as soil slide accross the river bed.

Front 8

Solution

Back 8

Small particles, such as soluble rocks and minerals dissolve in the water and are transported way as a solution

Front 9

Source

Back 9

The starting point of a river

Front 10

Tributaries

Back 10

Small rivers that join the main river channel

Front 11

Confluence

Back 11

The point where two rivers meet

Front 12

Drainage basin

Back 12

The area of land drained by rivers and tributaries

Front 13

Watershed

Back 13

The imaginary bounday of the drainage basin

Front 14

Mouth

Back 14

The finishing point of a river, where water enters either a sea, lake or ocean.