bed load

noun, Geology
1.
the sand, gravel, boulders, or other debris transported by rolling or sliding along the bottom of a stream.
Examples from the web for bed load
  • The sampler must be supported by a steel cable and reel to be lowered into a river or stream for taking a bed load sample.
  • bed load refers to sediment particles rolling, sliding, or tumbling along the streambed.
  • bed load is the sediment that is transported in a stream by rolling, sliding, or skipping along the bed and close to it.
  • Non-debris sediment or bed load characterized as fine or course.
  • Chemicals sorbed to sediments and organic matter may be transported in suspension or as bed load by river currents.
  • Development of simple bed load sampling techniques are needed.
  • Automatic samplers are not capable of sampling bed load material and are less effective in sampling larger particles.