BED LOAD

Sediment particles resting on or near the channel bottom that are pushed or rolled along by the flow of water. The sediment particles reach the channel bottom by being carried along the bed in a flowing fluid. There are various ways in which bed loads are transported including sliding, jumping, and rolling. However, bed loads usually will be lesser in size and more spherical when downstream and upstream. The reason this occurs is due to the effects of abrasion which comes about after the stones end up crashing against each other and against the river channel. Thus, a spherical shape is formed as the hard texture is removed and the particles are decreased in size. Bed loads have a much easier time in transporting smaller particles than larger ones due to requiring less stress in moving these particles that have less diameter.