River Processes

Question	Answer
Weathering	The breaking-down of rock in situ (where it is).
Weathering - Chemical Weathering	Weathering caused by chemical reactions (mainly with water and substances dissolved in it). When rocks are broken down or chemically altered.
Weathering - Physical Weathering	Caused by the effects of changing temperature on rocks, sometimes linked with Freeze-Thaw weathering.
Physical Weathering: Freeze-Thaw	Water seeps into cracks in rocks, the water then freezes, expands and thus causes the rock to break.
Physical Weathering: Exfoliation / Onion Skin Weathering	Rock heats up and expands by day, and cools down and contracts by night, causing stress on the outer layers. This stress results in the layers peeling off and revealing the layers that lie underneath.
Biological Weathering	Any weathering which involves living things. Tree roots grow inside cracks in rocks, and as the tree grows, the cracks expand and the rocks split and break. Animals bore into rocks for protection. Bacteria, algae, fungi or lichen produce chemicals that breaks down rock.
Erosion	The wearing away of the land by the action of rivers, ice, the wind and the sea.
River Erosion: Hydraulic Action	The force of the water pushing against the banks is enough to gradually wear it away.
River Erosion: Abrasion / Corrasion	Rocks carried by the river rub against the bed and the banks and wear it away.
River Erosion: Corrosion	Rocks that have already been broken up are broken up into tinier pieces and dissolved into the water.
River Erosion: Attrition	Rocks being carried by the river collide into each other, smashing into smaller, smoother and rounder pieces.
Transportation	Involves the transportation of matter in rivers.
River Transportation: Saltation	Small stones are bounced along the river bed.
River Transportation: Suspension	Very small, fine stones are carried down the river, suspended by the river's stream.
River Transportation: Solution	Minerals are dissolved into the water and carried along as a solution.
River Transportation: Traction	Larger rocks are rolled slowly along the river bed.
Deposition	When a river loses energy, it will deposit some of the material it is carrying. When the volume of the water decreases, or when it enters a shallow area, deposition is common.
Mass Movement	The movement of material down a slope due to gravity.
Mass Movement: Slumping	Rapid movements of large amounts of material, which occur after heavy bouts of rain, the rain causes the land to become saturated, and it can no longer support its own weight.
Mass Movement: Soil Creep	Slow movement of soil, occurring on gentle slopes. It causes noticeable ripples in the earth. This process is sped up by heavy rain.

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	Created by Alex Collins about 10 years ago