What term describes the wearing away of the load carried by a river, creating smaller and rounder particles?

The term that refers to the process of wearing away the load carried by a river, resulting in the creation of smaller and rounder particles, is attrition. In this context, attrition occurs when sediments and rocks collide with each other as they are transported downstream by the flow of the river. This collision causes edges and sharp corners to wear down, leading to a smoother and rounder appearance in the particles.

Erosion, on the other hand, describes the broader process of the removal and transport of soil and rock from one location to another, which encompasses various mechanisms including weathering and the action of water, wind, and ice. While erosion contributes to the overall process of landform change, attrition specifically focuses on the impact of particles on each other in the context of a river environment.

Transport refers to the movement of sediments and materials from one place to another, while deposition is the process by which these materials settle or are dropped in a new location, often leading to the accumulation of sediment. Each of these terms represents a distinct phase in the sedimentary cycle, but attrition specifically addresses the modification of the load itself through interactive wear.