2.7 River Transportation

A river uses its energy to carry or transport eroded materials such as mud, sand, boulders and dissolved materials. These materials are called its load. River transport their load by four processes. These processes are saltation, traction, solution and suspension.

• Saltation
• Traction
• Solution
• Suspension

2.7.1 Saltation   [fig 2.7(a)]

 fig 2.7(a)

Large particles such as gravel and coarse sand are lifted and dropped along the river, so they bounce along the river bed in a series of bed.

2.7.2 Traction   [fig 2.7(b)]

fig 2.7(b)

Larger particles like pebbles and boulders roll and slide along the river bed.

2.7.3 Solution   [fig 2.7(c)]

fig 2.7(c)

Dissolved materials containing minerals like calcium and sodium are carried in the water. Trying to look out for these type of load in a river? Too bad, they cannot be seen by a naked eye.

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