IGCSE Geography Rivers Practice Test 2025 – Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

The process responsible for the hydraulic erosion of river banks is hydraulic action. This involves the force of water impacting against the banks and bed of the river, which can dislodge and remove material. As water flows, it exerts pressure on the riverbanks, especially during floods when the velocity and volume of the water increase. The continuous action of water hitting the banks can lead to significant erosion over time, carving out features such as river cliffs and changing the landscape around the river.

While solution refers to the chemical process where soluble minerals and rocks are dissolved by water, and abrasion involves the wearing away of surfaces through the grinding action of sediment transported by the river, they are not the primary drivers of hydraulic erosion. Transport, on the other hand, describes how sediments and materials are moved downstream but does not specifically address the erosion of riverbanks. Thus, hydraulic action is the key process in the erosion of riverbanks due to the direct physical force exerted by the flowing water.