Ja

wa
ha D
rl ep
al ar
tm
Ne e
hr nt
u o
Co f
ll Ge
eg og
e, ra
ph
Pa y
si
g ha
t
FLUVIAL PROCESSES
Ja
wa
ha D
rl ep
al ar
tm
Ne e
hr nt
u o
Co f
ll Ge
eg og
e, ra
ph
 EROSION

Pa y
 DEPOSITION

si
g
 TRANSPORTATION

ha
t
FLUVIAL PROCESSES
 EROSION PROCESS

Factors affecting river erosion

t
ha
g
Pa y
• Water discharge: Volume of water passing through

si
ph
e, ra
a given point in a given period of time.

eg og
• Velocity

ll Ge
• Channel gradient: slope of the stream.
Co f
u o
hr nt
• Sediment load
Ne e
tm

• Cross sectional areas: smooth and irregular cross

al ar

sections.
rl ep
ha D
wa
Ja
 River erosion typically occurs in the following ways:

1. Surface Erosion/ Overland flow

t
2. Channel Erosion/ Stream flow

ha
g
Pa y
si
ph
e, ra
eg og
Surface Erosion

ll Ge
Water moving on the surface without being confined
Co f
to a channel. u o
hr nt

a) Splash erosion
Ne e
tm
al ar

b) Sheet erosion
rl ep
ha D
wa
Ja
 Surface erosion contd...

Splash erosion
 soil particles are loosened by
rain-drop impact.

t
 First step in the erosion process.

gha
Pa y
 Especially effective in arid and

si
ph
e, ra
semi-arid regions where rainfall

eg og
is sporadic and torrential and the

ll Ge
surface is loose and friable and

Co f
there is no vegetation cover.u o
hr nt
Ne e
tm

Sheet erosion
al ar
rl ep

 entrainment of loose particles

ha D

covering a considerable area in

overland flow.
wa
Ja
 Channel Erosion/ Stream flow
Water is confined to long trough-like
depressions called channel.
 Rill erosion

t
ha
g
 Gully erosion

Pa y
si
ph
e, ra
 Streams

eg og
ll Ge
Co f
u o
hr nt
Ne e
tm
al ar
rl ep

Rills:
ha D

Tiny superficial and ill-defined channels.

wa
Ja
 Types of fluvial erosion
Lateral erosion
Vertical erosion
Headward erosion

t
ha
g
Pa y
si
ph
e, ra
eg og
ll Ge
Co f
u o
hr nt
Ne e
tm
al ar
rl ep
ha D
wa
Ja
 Vertical erosion
This is when the river

t
ha
cuts down vertically

g
Pa y
si
ph
into the ground.

e, ra
eg og
Or

ll Ge
Co f
Deepening of a river u o
hr nt

channel to create
Ne e
tm
al ar

narrow v-shaped
rl ep
ha D

valley.
wa
Ja
Lateral erosion
 This is when the river erodes out laterally,

t
across the valley, creating a flat valley bottom.

ha
g
Pa y
si
ph
 Occurs normally in the lower course

e, ra
eg og
ll Ge
Co f
Headward erosion u o
hr nt
Ne e

 Lengthening of the river in the upstream

tm
al ar

direction.
rl ep
ha D

 River cut its source.

wa
Ja
 MECHANISM OF STREAM EROSION

1. Hydraulic Action:

t
ha
Erosion by the force of

g
Pa y
si
ph
moving water.

e, ra
eg og
ll Ge
2. Abrasion or Corrasion:
Co f
u o
hr nt
The river’s load (rock
Ne e
tm

fragments) wears away the

al ar
rl ep

bed and the sides.

ha D
wa
Ja
 continues...

3. Attrition: Mechanical wear and tear of the

t
erosional tools in themselves.

ha
g
Pa y
si
ph
4. Solution or Corrosion: chemicals in the river

e, ra
water wearing away the bed and the banks.

eg og
ll Ge
5. Cavitation: The implosion of bubbles or cavities
Co f
u o
during rapid, turbulent stream flow usually occurs
hr nt

downstream of an obstruction.
Ne e
tm
al ar

6. Evorsion: erosion by eddies in the rock bed of a

rl ep

stream, forming pot holes.

ha D
wa
Ja
Ja
wa
ha D
rl ep
al ar
tm
Ne e
hr nt
u o
Co f
ll Ge
eg og
e, ra
ph
Continues...

Pa y
si
gha
t
 Transportational work of
streams
Sediment load carried

t
ha
by river:

g
Pa y
si
ph
1. Suspended Load: Fine

e, ra
eg og
particles which are

ll Ge
suspended in water. E.g.
Co f
u o
hr nt
Sand and silt.
Ne e
tm

2. Bed Load: Large

al ar
rl ep

fragments, coarse sand

ha D

and pebbles which are

wa

carried along the bed.

Ja
 River transport their load in
different ways:

t
ha
g
 Solution

Pa y
si
ph
e, ra
eg og
 Suspension

ll Ge
Co f
u o
 Saltation
hr nt
Ne e
tm

 Traction
al ar
rl ep
ha D
wa
Ja
 Continues...
1. Solution: The
soluble
materials are

t
dissolved in

ha
g
Pa y
water and

si
ph
e, ra
become

eg og
invisible.

ll Ge
Co f
2. Suspension: u o
hr nt
Sediments
Ne e
tm

which remain
al ar

suspended in
rl ep
ha D

water are easily

carried away by
wa

the streams.
Ja
 Continue...
3. Saltation:
Transportation of
loads with water

t
currents wherein

ha
g
Pa y
coarse load moves

si
ph
e, ra
downward by

eg og
leaping and

ll Ge
jumping.
Co f
u o
hr nt
4. Traction:
Ne e
tm

Transportation of
al ar

boulders of bigger
rl ep
ha D

size which move

as bed load by
wa

rolling or sliding.
Ja
 Depositional work of streams
The deposition of load carried by the streams is
affected by a variety of factors:

t
ha
 decrease in channel gradient,

g
Pa y
si
ph
e, ra
 spreading of stream water over larger area,

eg og
ll Ge
 obstructions in channel flow,
Co f
u o
 decrease in the volume and discharge of
hr nt
Ne e
tm

water,
al ar
rl ep

 decrease in the velocity of streams,

ha D

 increase in load.
wa
Ja
Ja
wa
ha D
rl ep
al ar
tm
Ne e
hr nt
u o
Co f
ll Ge
eg og
e, ra
ph
Pa y
si
gha
t