Fluvial Processes and Associated Landorms — Flashcards

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A river performs three-fold work: erosion, transportation, and deposition of rock material. Erosion removes material, transportation carries it downstream, and deposition drops it where the river lose…

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Base level is the lowest level to which a river can erode its bed, or the level to which a land surface can be reduced by running water. Sea level is normally assumed to be the base level, but a lake …

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J.W. Powell first used the term in 1875, and W.M. Davis later used it in 1902.

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A river erodes most in the upper course because the slope is steep and the water moves fast. Near the base level, the slope becomes gentle, the river loses energy, and erosion becomes very weak or sto…

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Hydraulic action is erosion caused by the pressure and drag of flowing water on grains and rock fragments projecting from the bed and banks. It is especially effective on weak bedrock and regolith.

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Abrasion is the mechanical wearing away of rocks when the load carried by a river strikes the bed and banks. It works like natural grinding and polishing.

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Solution is chemical erosion in which river water dissolves minerals from rocks. It is different from solution as a transport mode, where dissolved solids are carried downstream.

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Headward erosion cuts back upstream and may lengthen the valley and even lead to river capture. Vertical erosion deepens the river valley by downcutting. Lateral erosion widens the valley by cutting i…