Attrition - GCSE Geography Definition

Attrition is a term used in GCSE Geography to describe a type of coastal or river erosion where particles carried by the water collide with each other, causing them to break into smaller, smoother pieces. This process occurs as rocks and pebbles crash against one another in the waves or as they are transported downstream in a river. Over time, attrition reduces the size of these particles, gradually transforming jagged, larger stones into finer pebbles and eventually into sand. This form of erosion contributes to the breakdown and reshaping of coastal and river landscapes, playing a crucial role in sediment transport and deposition.