Describe the Hjulström curve.

The critical erosion velocity line shows the minimum velocity needed to transport and erode a particle. Common sense tells us that the larger the particle, the more energy it needs to pick it up and be eroded, however there is one exception to this rule. Clay particles are microscopic, flat platelets that tend to stick to each other, and thus they need a relatively high velocity to pick them up and erode them. The mean settling velocity or critical deposition velocity line shows the velocity at which a sediment particle drops to the riverbed. In between these two lines show the velocities of where sediment will be transported, thus the lines split the graph into three sections-erosion, transportation and deposition.

HF
Answered by Hayley F. Geography tutor

16314 Views

See similar Geography A Level tutors

Related Geography A Level answers

All answers ▸

Using named examples, assess the advantages and disadvantages of top-down and bottom-up development strategies. (15)


What are river cliffs and how are they formed?


What are the different processes of erosion that take place in a river?


Describe the characteristics and explain the formation of one or more intrusive volcanic features (June 2016)


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning