4. Geomorphic
Processes
What does the term
‘geomorphic processes’
mean?
A geomorphic process is
something that changes the
shape of the land.
Examples include: erosion,
weathering, mass movement,
deposition and transportation.
5. Geomorphic
Processes
Match up the key words to
their correct meaning.
Key Word Meaning
Mass movement The break up of rocks by
weather.
Weathering The wearing away and
removing of material by a
moving force.
Erosion Sudden movement of
material down a slope
caused by gravity.
Deposition The movement of eroded
material by the river or sea.
Transportation The laying down of material
that has been moved.
6. Geomorphic
Processes
Match up the key words to
their correct meaning.
Key Word Meaning
Mass movement The break up of rocks by
weather.
Weathering The wearing away and
removing of material by a
moving force.
Erosion Sudden movement of
material down a slope
caused by gravity.
Deposition The movement of eroded
material by the river or sea.
Transportation The laying down of material
that has been moved.
7. Mass
Movement
Mass movement is the
movement of material
(rock) down a slope due to
gravity.
There are two different
types: sliding and
slumping.
Type of mass
movement
How it works
Sliding Rock or loss material slide
downhill,often due to heavy
rain.
Slumping Collapse of weak rock,such
as sand and clay. Again this
is due to heavy rainfall.
8. Weathering
There are three types of
weathering: biological,
chemical and mechanical.
Create a table like the one
shown, and describe how each
type of weathering works.
Type of
weathering
How it works
Biological
Chemical
Mechanical
9. Weathering
There are three types of
weathering: biological,
chemical and mechanical.
Create a table like the one
shown, and describe how each
type of weathering works.
Type of
weathering
How it works
Biological The actions of plants (roots)
and animals (burrowing)
crack rocks.
Chemical Acid water (CO2) breaks
down/dissolves rocks in a
chemical reaction.
Mechanical The breakdown of rocks
without using chemicals.
Wind,frost and snow can
help.
10. Erosion
Erosion is the wearing away
and removal of material (rock
and sand) by a moving force
(water).
How do you think each type of
erosion works?
Type of erosion How it works
Hydraulic Action
Abrasion
Attrition
Solution
11. Erosion
Erosion is the wearing away
and removal of material (rock
and sand) by a moving force
(water).
Type of erosion How it works
Hydraulic Action Pressure of water hitting a
surface,forcing air into
cracks which breaks away
rocks.
Abrasion Rocks scrape and smooth
the sea/river bed and
cliffs/banks.
Attrition A reduction in the size of
rocks.
Solution Rock is dissolved in a
chemical reaction by water.
12.
13. Deposition
Deposition is when material
being transported (moved) is
dropped due to a loss of
energy.
This can lead to the creation of
beaches, like the one shown at
Roker in Sunderland.
14. Transportation
Transportation is when
material is transported
(moved) from one place to
another.
There are four different types
of transportation.
How do you think the four
types of transportation work?
15. Transportation
Type of erosion How it works
Traction Large particles
(boulders/rocks) roll along
the seabed.
Saltation A bouncing motion of
pebbles along the seabed.
Suspension Particles suspended (float)
in the water.
Solution Chemicals dissolved in
water and are moved.
16. Steps to
Success
Examine the impact of
geomorphic processes on river
landscapes.
Step What to include
1: Opening sentence Geomorphic processes such as
……… impact river landscapes.
2: Erosion Explain how at least two types of
erosion work and what landforms
they can create.
3: Mass Movement Explain how mass movement
(sliding and slumping) work.
4: Transportation Explain how at least two types of
transportation work,and the impact
this has.
5. Judgement- do
geomorphic processes
impact river landscapes?
Geomorphic processes do/do not
impact river landscapes. This is
because…
18. Key Word Meaning
Mass movement The break up of rocks by
weather.
Weathering The wearing away and
removing of material by a
moving force.
Erosion Sudden movement of material
down a slope caused by gravity.
Deposition The movement of eroded
material by the river or sea.
Transportation The laying down of material
that has been moved.
Key Word Meaning
Mass movement The break up of rocks by
weather.
Weathering The wearing away and
removing of material by a
moving force.
Erosion Sudden movement of material
down a slope caused by gravity.
Deposition The movement of eroded
material by the river or sea.
Transportation The laying down of material
that has been moved.
Key Word Meaning
Mass movement The break up of rocks by
weather.
Weathering The wearing away and
removing of material by a
moving force.
Erosion Sudden movement of material
down a slope caused by gravity.
Deposition The movement of eroded
material by the river or sea.
Transportation The laying down of material
that has been moved.
Key Word Meaning
Mass movement The break up of rocks by
weather.
Weathering The wearing away and
removing of material by a
moving force.
Erosion Sudden movement of material
down a slope caused by gravity.
Deposition The movement of eroded
material by the river or sea.
Transportation The laying down of material
that has been moved.
19.
20. Abrasion:
Small rocks carried by the river are
hurled at the cliffs causing them to be
worn away.
Sliding
Heavy rain soaks into permeable rocks,
lubricating them causing material to
suddenly move down a slope due to the
pull of gravity.
Deposition:
When a river slows down it has less
energy and velocity,this causes
sediment to be deposited.
Mechanical- Wind:
High winds remove finer sediment
which can then be blown into the river
causing more abrasion.
Chemical:
Acid rain reacts with minerals which
breaks them down and makes it easy
for them to be washed away. Minerals
are also weakened when they are
exposed to the air in a process called
oxidation.
Attrition:
Small rocks carried by the river are
hurled at the cliffs causing them to be
worn away.
Saltation:
Stones and small pebbles are bounced
along the river bed,due to the flow of
the river.
Traction:
Large rocks and boulders are rolled
along the river bed.
Suspension:
Very light material is carried along the
river,this sediment is very fine and can
make the river look dirty.
Solution:
Rocks such as limestone are broken
down into soluble materials by the
chemicals in the river water.
Solution:
Some sediments are dissolved and
carried along by the river.
Mechanical- Frost:
Waters gets into cracks and freezes,
causes it to expand,this puts pressure
on the rocks and causes the rocks to
break up.
Biological- Plants and Animals:
Burrowing animals such as rabbits and
voles and tree roots loosen and break
up rocks which allows the river water to
penetrate them.
Hydraulic action:
The power of moving water which is
forced against cliffs causing them to be
worn away.
Slumping
Clay becomes waterlogged and slumps
down into the river suddenly due to the
pull of gravity.
Key Weathering Erosion Mass Movement Transportation Deposition
