Processes of a river

• The input to rivers in precipitation (rain, snow etc)
• The processes of a river are: Erosion >>> Transport >>> Deposition
• The outputs from rivers are physical features

How do rivers shape the landscape?

Below are ways that rivers change the landscape and a short description of each:

• Hydraulic action: Force of water on river bank undercuts and removes material.
• Corrasion: Rocks bounce against side and bottom of river and break off more material.
• Attrition: Rocks collide with each other and break up into smaller pieces.
• Solution: Dissolved material being carried along by the river.
• Suspension: Small particles carried along by the river.
• Traction: Particles carried along the river bed.
• Saltation: Bedload particles bounced along the river bed.
• Deposition: River slows and dumps material including silt.