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Understanding River Erosion
How Rivers Carve Their Paths: A Look at Erosion Processes
Discover the fascinating forces that shape river landscapes.
River Landscapes
Rivers are powerful agents of change, constantly reshaping the Earth's surface. This page explores the key processes behind river erosion, explaining how rivers deepen and widen their channels.
Abrasion
The wearing away of riverbeds and banks by the friction of sediment carried by the water.
Hydraulic Action
The force of the water's flow against the banks and bed of the river, eroding and carrying away material.
Solution
The chemical breakdown of minerals in the riverbed and banks, increasing vulnerability to erosion.
Hydraulic Action in Detail
The sheer power of the moving water itself is a major erosive force. It can dislodge and carry away pieces of rock and soil.
Understanding Solution
Certain chemicals in the water can dissolve minerals in the riverbed and banks, weakening the rock and making it more susceptible to other erosion processes.