River Channel Processes and Landforms

Channel processes

Erosion: abrasion/corrasion, solution, cavitation, and hydraulic action.

Load transport: traction, saltation, suspension, and solution.

Deposition and sedimentation: the Hjülstrom curve.

River flow: velocity and discharge, patterns of flow (laminar, turbulent and helicoidal), and thalweg.

Channel types: straight, braided, and meandering.

Landforms: meander (river cliffs, point bars, oxbow lakes), riffle and pool sequences, waterfalls, gorges, bluffs, floodplains, levées, and deltas.