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What are the factors influencing the rate of erosion by a river in its upper course?

Give factors that influence the rate of erosion by a river in its upper course.

Answers

Maurice
(i) The size of sediments/loads.

(ii) The rock type over which a river is flowing.

(iii) The amount of stream discharge.

(iv) The slope of the landscape.

OR

1. Stream volume.
A small stream has a small volume of water and can carry a sizeable amount of load. A bigger stream will carry bigger load which in turn increases its ability to erode by abrasion. A larger volume of water also increases the river's ability to erode by hydraulic action and solution processes

2. Gradient and velocity
The degree of slope determines the speed of water. The steeper the slope, the faster the water moves. A fast flowing stream erodes more than a slow moving one through hydraulic action and solution processes. Thus there is more erosion at the river source than its mouth.

3. Nature of the bed rock.
Less resistant rocks such as sandstones, limestone are easily eroded more than more resistant rocks. Less resistant rocks are weak in that they are soft, poorly cemented and highly fractured.
maurice.mutuku answered the question on June 7, 2017 at 07:51

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