Processes of River Erosion

River Erosion  involves the wearing away of the rock and soil particles found along the river bed and river banks. River Erosion also involves the breaking down of the rock particles being carried downstream by the river.

There are four processes through which River Erosion can occur. These are;

• Corrasion (or Abrasion)
• Attrition
• Hydraulic action
• Solution

Corrasion (or Abrasion):

Corrasion, also known as abrasion, is the process where the bed and sides of a river channel are worn away by the materials (like stones and pebbles) the river carries. As the river flows, these materials swirl around in the water, scraping and grinding against the channel, especially around hollows, which helps to widen and deepen it. This process often occurs in the upper course of a river, where the water flows fast and carries a lot of rough, heavy materials. As the channel erodes, more material is added to the river’s load, increasing the effect of corrasion. The Corrasion process can also be called the Abrasion Process .

Attrition:

Attrition is a process where the rocks and other materials carried by a river