[1] A mechanistic model is derived for the rate of fluvial erosion into bedrock by abrasion from uniform size particles that impact the bed during transport in both bed and suspended load. The erosion rate is equated to the product of the impact rate, the mass loss per particle impact, and a bed coverage term. Unlike previous models that consider only bed load, the impact rate is not assumed to...

Each second, the rivers of the world add 109 kg of fresh water to the oceans, and with this water comes tremendous quantities of salts, clay minerals, and other suspended solids. Although the Amazon River makes the largest contribution of fresh water to the sea, its waters are relatively uncontaminated. On the other hand, the Mississippi River, the third largest river, which delivers only about...