Transportation – The movement of material by suspension, solution, traction and saltation

Types of transportation: 

Suspension: Fine, light material is carried along by the river.

Solution: Minerals are dissolved in the water.

Traction: Large boulders and rocks are rolled along the river bed.

Saltation: Small pebbles and stones are bounced along the river bed.

To remember that transportation moves in four ways – suspension, solution, traction and saltation – recall the following:

Transport (transportation) was the solution (solution) to moving the large suspenders (suspension) so a tractor (traction) was used, but they had to salt (saltation) the roads first.

Transportation is all about the movement downstream of materials that have broken loose as a result of erosion. This eroded material is generally referred to as sediment.

The sediment moves faster nearer the river's source, where it flows quickly down steeper inclines. Where a river approaches the sea over flatter land, the flow is reduced and the sediment is deposited.

This can result in the "silting up" of river estuaries – granular material is deposited over time, causing obstructions that result in new channels and deltas.