Waterfall presentation
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Waterfalls form where harder rock overlays softer rock, allowing the river to erode the latter more quickly. This erosion creates a step, a notch, and a plunge pool, which increase in size as hydraulic action continues to deepen and erode them. Over time, the unsupported harder rock collapses, leading the waterfall to retreat upstream and leaving a steep-sided gorge behind.
Waterfall presentation
- 1. 1. Waterfalls are often formed where a layer of harder rock overlays a layer of softer rock. Harder rock Softer rock
- 2. 2. As the river passes over the softer rock, it is able to erode it at a faster rate, forming a step in the river bed. Harder rock Harder rock Softer rock Softer rock
- 3. Harder rock Softer rock ii. it undercuts the harder rock to form a notch 3. The force of hydraulic action does two things: i. deepens the step to form a plunge pool at the base of the waterfall Further erosion makes the plunge pool and notch bigger over time.
- 4. Harder rock Softer rock As the notch grows, eventually there isn’t enough support under the harder rock and so it collapses into the plunge pool.
- 5. Harder rock Softer rock This adds rocks and boulders to the plunge pool, and so the process of corrasion works with hydraulic action to further erode the plunge pool and notch.
- 6. Harder rock Softer rock The processes of erosion continue, further eroding out the notch and plunge pool. Eventually the harder rock above will collapse again, meaning that the waterfall will retreat upstream over time.
- 7. As it retreats, it leaves behind a steep sided gorge.