8.1.4

Sediment Transport

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Processes of Transportation

Sediment is material at the bottom of a liquid. There are 4 main ways that water can transport sediment:

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Solution

  • A solution is where rocks that are soluble are dissolved by water (limestone and chalk in particular). They are then transported within the water.
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Suspension

  • A suspension is where silt (sand, clay or other material) and sand particles are held in water (but not dissolved). The silt and sand particles are then transported along with the water.
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Saltation

  • Saltation is where small sand and gravel particles bounce along the river bed or sea bed.
  • They will travel in the direction of the flow of water.
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Traction

  • Traction is where large rocks or large particles are dragged along the river bed or sea bed by the current.

Jump to other topics

1Geography Skills

2Geology of the UK

3Geography of the World

4Development

5Weather & Climate

6The World of Work

7Natural Resources

8Rivers

9Coasts

10Glaciers

11Tectonics

12Climate Change

13Global Population & Inequality

14Urbanisation

15Ecosystems

16Life in an Emerging Country

17Analysis of Africa

18Analysis of India

19Analysis of the Middle East

20Analysis of Bangladesh

21Analysis of Russia

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