Bed load

Bed load

The term Bed load describes particles in a flowing fluid (usually a river) that are transported along the bed. This is in opposition to suspended load and wash load which are carried entirely in suspension.

Bedload moves by a variety of methods, including rolling, sliding, traction, and saltation.

Generally, bed load downstream will be smaller and more rounded than bed load upstream (a process known as downstream fining). This is due in part to attrition and abrasion which cause the stones to bump against each other and against the river channel, thus removing its rough texture and making it smaller. However, selective transport of sediments also plays a role in relation to downstream fining: larger-than average particles are more easily entrained than small-than average particles, since larger particles are protruding from the bed whereas small particles are shielded/ hidden by larger particles thus requiring a higher lift and drag force to entrain.

References

*Waugh, D. "The New Wider World", Cheltenham: Nelson Thorns Ltd, 2003.
*Ashworth, P.J and Ferguson, R.I (1989) Size-selective entrainment of Bed Load in Gravel Bed Streams, "'Water Resources Research", Vol 25 (4): 627-634


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • bed|load — «BEHD LOHD», noun. Geology. 1. bits of rock, soil, or other detritus, carried along the bottom of a river or stream by the current. 2. coarse particles, such as sand, carried along the ground by the wind …   Useful english dictionary

  • bed load — Geol. the sand, gravel, boulders, or other debris transported by rolling or sliding along the bottom of a stream. * * * …   Universalium

  • bed load — noun the large particles of sediment that are carried along the bottom of a stream …   Wiktionary

  • bed load —    See bedload …   Lexicon of Cave and Karst Terminology

  • bed load — noun : sediment not in suspension rolled or dragged along a stream bottom * * * Geol. the sand, gravel, boulders, or other debris transported by rolling or sliding along the bottom of a stream …   Useful english dictionary

  • load — loadless, adj. /lohd/, n. 1. anything put in or on something for conveyance or transportation; freight; cargo: The truck carried a load of watermelons. 2. the quantity that can be or usually is carried at one time, as in a cart. 3. this quantity… …   Universalium

  • Load — [loud] die; , s <aus gleichbed. engl. load, eigtl. »Ladung, Last«, Bed. 2 über amerik. load »größere Menge von etwas«>: 1. altes britisches Maß, bes. Hohlmaß unterschiedlicher Größe. 2. (Jargon) für einen Rauschzustand benötigte Dosis eines …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • Stream load — is a geologic term referring to the solid matter carried by a stream (Strahler and Strahler, 2006). Erosion continually removes mineral material from the bed and banks of the stream channel, adding this material to the regular flow of water. The… …   Wikipedia

  • Suspended load — Suspended Loadhweuwqrfor the fine particles that are light enough to be carried in a stream without touching the stream bed. These particles are generally of the fine sand, silt and clay size, although they can be larger, especially in cases of… …   Wikipedia

  • Dissolved load — is the term for material, especially ions from chemical weathering, that are carried in solution by a stream. The dissolved load contributes to the total amount of material removed from a catchment. The amount of material carried as dissolved… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”