What is river erosion and how does it work?

Although there are some exceptions, most upstream locations are composed of rocky and compacted zones that provide particles (mainly rocks and boulders) due to water movement; these particles are only moved in the river canal during high flow (flood) events and are minimized in size. If river banks are not stabilized, they are subject to erosion due to river flow.

The transported material is stored wherever conditions permit. River slope, flow rate, particle cohesion and adhesion, water temperature, and other factors are the most important parameters in river bed material erosion. River bed material is another material that is susceptible to river erosion, particularly during high flow events.

If people do not take proper care of river management, erosion of the riverbank may occur.

River erosion is the process by which running water, primarily rivers, wears away and removes soil, rock, and other materials from the Earth's surface. It works through hydraulic action, abrasion, attrition, and solution, gradually shaping the landscape over time by carrying sediment downstream and carving out valleys and canyons.