Topic Summaries

Fluvial processes

IGCSE > Geography > Pearson IGCSE > IGCSE Geography Topic Summaries > River landscapes > Fluvial processes
Previous Module
Next Module

Weather hazards and atmospheric circulation

Hot desert ecosystems

Cold environment ecosystems

Glacial landscapes

Glacial landform processes

Energy supply

  • Erosion: involves the wearing away of riverbeds and banks by the river’s energy and materials it carries. 
    • Abrasion: rock fragments carried by the river collide with the sides and bed of the river, eroding the rock. 
    • Attrition: rocks and pebbles carried by the river collide with each other, breaking into smaller, smoother, and rounder pieces. 
    • Hydraulic action: the force of water striking the riverbanks compresses air into cracks, causing the rock to break. 
    • Solution erosion: minerals in the rocks (e.g. limestone) are dissolved by the slightly acidic river water.
  • Transportation: refers to how the river moves material downstream. 
    • Traction: large rocks and boulders are rolled along the riverbed by the force of the water. 
    • Saltation: pebbles and stones bounce along the riverbed, as they are too heavy to remain suspended. 
    • Suspension: fine particles (e.g. silt and clay) are carried within the water, making it look muddy. 
    • Solution transportation: dissolved minerals are carried in the water, invisible to the eye.
  • Deposition: occurs when the river loses energy and drops its load. 
    • This happens when the river slows down (e.g. in the lower course or during low flow) or when the material is too heavy for the river to carry (e.g. large rocks or boulders). 
    • Deposition is common in the lower course where rivers form features like floodplains, levees, and deltas.

Unlock Fluvial processes

Subscribe to SnapRevise+ to get immediate access to the rest of this resource.

Premium accounts get immediate access to this resource.

Previous Module
Next Module