River channel concepts

The wearing away of the bed and bank by the load carried by a river.

• Abrasion

• Attrition

• Cavitation

• Erosion

The wearing away of the load carried by a river, smaller rounder particles are created.

• Cavitation

• Erosion

• Abrasion

• Attrition

Pebbles and larger material pushed or shunted along the river bed.

• Sediment

• Deposition

• Bedload

• Stones

Material such as sediment being dropped by water in a different location.

• Deposition

• Bedload

• Sediment

• Stones

The mean speed of flow over time measured either at a point in the river channel or over a set of distance.

• Medium

• Average speed

• Discharge

• Competence

The movement of material by water or wind, it involves the act of entraining the material (picking up).

• Hydraulic action

• Traction

• Erosion

• Deposition

The force of air and water on the sides of rivers and in cracks, it includes the direct force of flowing water and cavitation.

• Attrition

• Discharge

• Erosion

• Hydraulic action

Lighter material moves by bouncing along the stream bed, the lighter material is partially entrained and then dropped by the current disturbing other sediment.

• Erosion

• Saltation

• Hydraulic action

• Abrasion

The action of a current in a river moving heavier sediments e.g. pebbles by rolling or pushing along the bed of the stream.

• Traction

• Abrasion

• Sedimentation

• Competence

The lightest particles are carried along in the river current.

• Deposition

• Bedload

• Suspension

• Erosion