Hydraulic Action

Hydraulic action occurs when the motion of water against a rock surface produces mechanical weathering. Most generally, it is the ability of moving water (flowing or waves) to dislodge and transport rock particles. Within this rubric are a number of specific erosional processes, including abrasion, attrition, corrasion, saltation, scouring, and traction. Hydraulic action is distinguished from other types of water facilitated erosion, such as static erosion where water leaches salts and floats off organic material from unconsolidated sediments, and from chemical erosion more often called chemical weathering.

A primary example of hydraulic action is a wave striking a cliff face which compresses the air in cracks of the rocks. This exerts pressure on the surrounding rock which can progressively crack, break, splinter and detach rock particles. This is followed by the decompression of the air as the wave retreats which can often occur suddenly with explosive force which additionally weakens the rock. Cracks are gradually widened so the amount of compressed air increases, and hence the explosive force of its release increases. Thus, the effect intensifies in a 'positive feedback' system. Over time, as the cracks may grow they sometimes form a sea cave. The broken pieces that fall off produce two additional types of erosion, corrasion (sandpapering) and attrition. Corrasion is where the newly formed chunks are thrown against the rock face, while attrition is a similar effect caused by the eroded particles after falling to the sea bed where they are subjected to further wave action. In coastal areas wave hydraulic action is often the most important form of erosion.

Similarly, hydraulic action is strong enough to loosen sediment along a stream bed and its banks; this will take rocks and particles from the side of the banks and add it to the stream's load. This process is the result of friction between the moving water and the static stream bed and banks. This friction increases with the speed of the water and the roughness of the bed. Once loosened the smaller particles are actually held in suspension by the force of the flowing water, these suspended particles can scour the sides and bottom of the stream. The scouring action produces distinctive markings on streams beds such as ripple marks, fluting, and crescent marks. The larger particles and even large rocks are scooted (dragged) along the bottom in a process known as traction which causes attrition, and are often "bounced" along in a process known as saltation where the force of the water temporarily lifts the rock particle which then crashes back into the bed dislodging other particles.

Hydraulic action also occurs as a stream tumbles over a waterfall to crash onto the rocks below. It usually leads to the formation of a plunge pool below the waterfall due in part to corrasion from the stream's load, but more to a scouring action as vortices form in the water as it escapes downstream.hydrolic action can also cause the break down of river banks since there is water bubles which enters the banks and collapes them when they expand.