User:Al Climbs/Sediment load

The Sediment load of a stream is the amount of sediment that the stream carries while moving. As weathering removes loose sediment, streams can begin to transport this sediment by the hydraulic lift of the water. This sediment can be carried in many ways, typically based on the particle size of the sediment. Large slow moving sediment is carried along the bottom is and referred to as bed load. Some particles are carried above the bed, this sediment is suspended load, and moves at the same velocity of the water. As the particles become smaller they can become dissolved by the water forming dissolved load. As the stream slows down, typically by changes in profile, large sediment can no longer by transported by the stream, and the larger particles begin to be deposited.