1.1.5

Deposition

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Deposition

Deposition is when the sediment that a river is transporting is dropped. This happens in the middle and lower course of the river and in lower energy conditions. The reasons why rivers lose velocity and drop material are:

River Landforms Caused by Erosion

Waterfalls

Waterfalls

  • When a river flows over hard rock that overlays softer rock, a waterfall can form.
  • The less resistant rock begins to erode by abrasion and hydraulic action.
  • A step or notch forms in the softer rock, creating a river rapid.
  • Over time, the softer rock is eroded more and more, whereas the harder rock is left sticking out.
  • The height of the drop increases as the water pounds the less resistant rock at the base. Eventually a waterfall forms.
Waterfalls and gorges

Waterfalls and gorges

  • The less resistant rock starts to be eroded underneath the hard rock. This process is called undercutting.
  • The overhanging harder rock collapses because it's unsupported.
  • The waterfall now has harder rock to swirl around its base. The resulting abrasion creates a plunge pool.
  • Hydraulic action keeps undercutting behind the waterfall.
  • If the process repeats over a long time, a gorge may form.
Interlocking spurs

Interlocking spurs

  • In the upper courses of rivers, valleys are steep and V-shaped because most of the erosion that happens is in a vertical direction.
  • Because the rivers don't have enough energy to erode sideways, they are restricted to winding around the hills on the valley sides.
  • These interlocking hillsides are the interlocking spurs.
V-shaped valleys

V-shaped valleys

  • Vertical erosion makes the river valley deep and V-shaped.
  • Vertical erosion dominates in the upper course.
  • This is because high turbulence causes the angular particles to drag along the river bed causing erosion by the process of abrasion.
  • Initial abrasion causes the valley sides to be more exposed to weathering. This results in more material entering into the channel, which causes more abrasion.
Jump to other topics
1

Physical Geography

1.1

River Environments

1.1.1Weathering1.1.2Mass Movement1.1.3Erosion1.1.4Transportation1.1.5Deposition1.1.6River Landforms: Waterfalls & Gorges1.1.7River Landforms: Interlocking Spurs1.1.8River Landforms: Flood Plains1.1.9River Landforms: Point Bars1.1.10River Landforms: Levees1.1.11River Landforms: Meanders1.1.12River Landforms: Oxbow Lakes1.1.13River Landscape Changes: Long Profile1.1.14River Landscape Changes: Cross Profile1.1.15Vertical & Lateral Erosion1.1.16Flood Risk Factors1.1.17Human Activities on Rivers1.1.18River Management: Hard Engineering1.1.19River Management: Soft Engineering1.1.20Case Study: The River Eden - Landforms1.1.21Case Study: The River Eden - Climate1.1.22Case Study: The River Eden - Geology1.1.23Case Study: The River Eden - Management1.1.24Case Study: The River Eden - Human Activity1.1.25End of Topic Test - River Environments
1.2

Coastal Environments

1.2.1Weathering1.2.2Mass Movement1.2.3Erosion1.2.4Deposition1.2.5Longshore Drift1.2.6Sediment Transportation1.2.7Wave Action on Coasts1.2.8Other Factors Influencing Coasts1.2.9Coastal Landforms: Wave-cut Platforms & Cliffs1.2.10Coastal Landforms: Headlands & Bays1.2.11Coastal Landforms: Caves, Arches & Stacks1.2.12Coastal Deposition1.2.13Spits, Bars & Sand Dunes1.2.14Human Activity on Coasts1.2.15Coastal Defences: Hard Engineering1.2.16Coastal Defences: Soft Engineering1.2.17Coastal Defences: Managed Retreat1.2.18Case Study: Holderness Coast Overview1.2.19Case Study: Holderness Coast Management1.2.20Case Study: Holderness Coast Defences1.2.21End of Topic Test - Coastal Environments
1.3

Hazardous Environments - Tropical Cyclones

1.3.1Characteristics of a Tropical Cyclone1.3.2Structure of a Tropical Cyclone1.3.3Physical Hazards of Tropical Cyclones1.3.4The Impacts of Tropical Cyclones1.3.5Responses to Tropical Cyclones1.3.6Vulnerability to Tropical Cyclones1.3.7Preparing for Tropical Cyclones1.3.8Case Study: Katrina1.3.9Case Study: Nargis
1.4

Hazardous Environments - Earthquakes & Volcanoes

1.4.1Earthquakes1.4.2Features of an Earthquake1.4.3Types of Earthquake1.4.4Case Study: L'Aquila1.4.5Case Study: Chile1.4.6Case Study: Japan & Pakistan - Planning1.4.7Volcanoes1.4.8Types of Volcanoes1.4.9Volcanic Eruptions
2

Human Geography

2.1

Economic Activity & Energy

2.1.1Increasing Energy Consumption2.1.2Non-Renewable Energy - Nuclear2.1.3Non-Renewable Energy - Fossil Fuels2.1.4Renewable Energy - Solar2.1.5Renewable Energy - Water & Bio2.1.6Renewable Energy - Hydro2.1.7Energy - Statistical Skills
2.2

Rural Environments

2.2.1Rainforests2.2.2Temperate Forests2.2.3Characteristics of a Temperate Forest2.2.4Goods & Services in Temperate Forests2.2.5Deserts2.2.6Tundra
2.3

Urban Environments

2.3.1Urbanisation in Different Countries2.3.2Causes of Urbanisation2.3.3Consequences of Urbanisation2.3.4Sustainable Urbanisation2.3.5Case Study: Rapid Urbanisation in Mexico City2.3.6End of Topic Test - Urbanisation
3

Global Issues

3.1

Fragile Environments & Climate Change

3.1.1Natural Causes of Climate Change3.1.2Effects of Climate Change on the Environment3.1.3Effects of Climate Change on People3.1.4Impacts of Deforestation3.1.5End of Topic Test - Climate Change3.1.6Increasing Water Supply3.1.7Sustainable Rainforest Management
3.2

Globalisation & Migration

3.2.1Globalisation - Transport3.2.2Globalisation - Communication Networks & Banking3.2.3Push & Pull Factors3.2.4TNCs & Globalisation3.2.5Tourism Landscapes3.2.6The Growth of Tourism3.2.7The Economic Benefits of Tourism3.2.8The Social & Cultural Benefits of Tourism3.2.9The Economic Costs of Tourism3.2.10The Social & Cultural Costs of Tourism3.2.11Managing Tourism - Sustainability3.2.12Managing Tourism - Quotas & Tourism Hubs
3.3

Development & Human Welfare

3.3.1Ways of Defining Development3.3.2Different Ways of Measuring Development3.3.3Environmental Factors Causing Uneven Development3.3.4Historical Factors Causing Uneven Development3.3.5Economic Factors Causing Uneven Development3.3.6Patterns of Development3.3.7How Can we Reduce the Global Development Gap?3.3.8Top-Down & Bottom-Up Development

Practice questions on Deposition

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Why might a river lose velocity and drop the sediment it is carrying?Fill in the list
  2. 2
    Why does deposition of sediment happen?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Which of the following would cause a river to slow down and deposit sediment?True / false
  4. 4
    In which part of rivers does deposition NOT happen?Multiple choice
Answer all questions on Deposition

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Transportation

River Landforms: Waterfalls & Gorges