5 Questions
What is the initial effect of undercutting on the outside of a meander?
The meander becomes larger
What is the eventual outcome of a swans neck meander?
The river cuts through the neck
What happens to the river after it cuts through the neck of a meander?
It continues its new straighter path
What seals off the ends of the cut-off meander?
New deposition
What is the final outcome of the process of meander formation and abandonment?
An ox bow lake
Study Notes
Meander Evolution
- Undercutting on the outside of a meander can cause collapse, leading to the enlargement of the meander
- The neck of a meander narrows over time, forming a characteristic "swan's neck" shape
- During periods of high discharge, the river may cut through the neck of the meander, creating a new path
- As a result, the river abandons the original meander, adopting a straighter course
- The cut-off meander is eventually sealed off by new deposition, forming an oxbow lake
This quiz explains the process of oxbow lake formation through the erosion and deposition of a meandering river. Learn how the river's path changes over time, creating a new lake.
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