Processes of Erosion,Transport and

Deposition in a River

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Do Now : Study this photo.

How has this river changed the landscape?
Do you know how it happens?
Have you learnt about anything like this in science?
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Processes of river erosion

Hydraulic action

Abrasion

Attrition

Solution
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Processes of river erosion

Abrasion
This is the process by which the bed and banks are worn down
by the rivers load. The river throws these particles against the
bed and banks, sometimes at high velocity.
Hydraulic Action
This process involves the force of water against the bed and
banks.
Solution
This is the chemical action of river water. The acids in the water
slowly dissolve the bed and the banks.
Attrition
Material (the load) carried by the river bump into each other and
so are smoothed and broken down into smaller particles.
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Landforms in the upper course

V-shaped valleys and interlocking spurs
Rapids
river disappears
Waterfalls
from view hidden
by this spur of land

Upper Valley River Conwy

(near Mignant
Moor)

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How is material transported downstream?

Traction

Saltation

Suspension

Solution
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How is material transported downstream?

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Deposition
This is when the river leaves behind the
material it cant carry
The largest material is deposited first (as it
takes more energy to carry it)
The smaller the load, the further it can be
deposited, so this is deposited much further
downstream than larger load.

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LO 1: To be able to describe the four different types of erosion.

Task: Use the hand-out to complete this GCSE question:

Describe how a river erodes
(3 marks)

unt up
o
c
l
l
i
We w
arks
your m nd!
e
at the

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Plenary: What have you learned?

Learning Outcomes:
1) To be able to describe the four different types of erosion.
2) To be able to use a diagrams to explain the erosional processes .
3) To have answered exam questions that match/beat my target grade.
Add up the marks from the
two exam questions:

What evidence is there that erosion

is taking place in this river? Explain you

4 marks: C
5-6 marks: B
7-8 marks: A
9 marks: A*
Have you reached your target
grade?
If not, how could you improve?

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