Meanders & Ox-Bow Lakes Flashcards
All 5 cards in this deck
What is a meander?
A winding curve or bend in a river.
What happens on the outside bend of a meander?
Water flows fastest in the deeper channel, so lateral erosion undercuts the bank and forms a steep river cliff.
What happens on the inside bend of a meander?
Flow is slower and shallower with more friction, so material is deposited, forming a slip-off slope.
What are the steps in the formation of an ox-bow lake?
e.g. a large meander on a flood plain- Lateral erosion on opposite sides narrows the neck of the meander.
- In a flood the river breaks through the neck and takes the shorter, straighter route.
- Deposition cuts off the old meander, leaving a curved ox-bow lake.
True or false? An ox-bow lake stays joined to the river at one end.
False. Deposition cuts the old meander off completely, leaving a lake separated from the main river.