Meanders

Question 1

What is a meander?

Answer 1

Sweeping bends in a river that are formed through erosion and deposition

Question 2

Describe the inside bend

Answer 2

Deposition
Shallower
Creates a river beach/slip off slope

Question 3

Describe the outside bend

Answer 3

Erosion
Deeper
Creates a river cliff
(This is lateral erosion) (sideways erosion)

Question 4

What happens in the outer bend

Answer 4

Current is faster
Water is pushed to the outer bend
This reduces friction with the bed and banks
So the river has more energy for transporting material which can erode the outside bank ( e.g. abrasion and hydrolic action to form a river cliff.

Question 5

What happens at the inner bend

Answer 5

The river doesn’t have enough energy to carry material , this causes DEPOSITION to occur and a slip off slope forms
There is more friction in the inner bend

Question 6

What does an oxbow lake start off as?

Answer 6

A meander where erosion and deposition takes place

Question 7

What is the 2nd thing that happens to the meander?

Answer 7

Over time the erosion of the river cliff and the deposition at the slip off slope means the neck of the meander gets narrower

Question 8

What is the 3rd thing that happens?
AKA , What happens after the meander gets narrower

Answer 8

After heavy rain or flooding the river may gain energy and combust through

Question 9

What happens after the river combursts through?

Answer 9

Further deposition may cut the loop off, forming an ox bow lake

Question 10

What does an ox bow lake look like

Answer 10

A river with a lake that looks like a C beside it