Hydraulic Action: GCSE Geography Definition

What is hydraulic action?

In GCSE geography, hydraulic action is one of the four types of erosion that may take place in a river or at the coast. Hydraulic action is the erosion process that acts upon the banks and bed of a river or the face of a cliff. The force of the water pushes air into cracks in the rock. This puts pressure on the surrounding rock. Over time, this causes the rock to crack and break apart. The process dislodges and transports the rocks away.

Hydraulic action works together with abrasion, attrition and solution to form river and coastal landforms. Hydraulic action is the dominant erosive force in the formation of waterfalls and caves.

Hydraulic Action Revision Resources to Ace Your Exam

You can learn more about hydraulic action in our GCSE Geography revision note pages:

Changing River Shape ( AQA GCSE Geography)

Coastal Landscapes (Edexcel GCSE Geography B)

Influences on Landscapes (OCR GCSE Geography B)

Meet all your GCSE Geography revision needs, improve your grades, and boost your confidence using revision resources from Save My Exams. This includes using our river and coastal flashcards and river and coastal exam questions with student-friendly answers.