Oxbow Lakes

Question 1

What is an oxbow lake

Answer 1

Remnant if a former meanders that has been NATURALLY by passed by the river channel

Question 2

1 sinuosity increases as well as erosion continued on outside bend

Answer 2

As sinuosity increases, continued erosion of the outside bend in the meanders causes the gap called the meander neck in the meander loop to become narrower.

Question 3

2 high discharge what does the river have more of

Answer 3

Then often in times of high flood or Hugh river flow the river will have more energy and will seek the most effective effective way downstream. The river will have more energy to erode and will cut through the meaner neck, straightening the channel

Question 4

3 after flowing through a new route what happens because of maximum velocity and what is created

Answer 4

For a time the water flows across a new route and through the old meanders but gradually as maximum flow of velocity is now in the middle of the channel, deposition will occur at the edges. This deposition will block of the meanders, disconnecting it from the channel, creating an ox bow lake

Question 5

4 what dries out the ox bow lake and what is left behind

Answer 5

Overtime plant invasion and sediment washes into the ox bow lake. This causes it to silt up and dry out. A crescent shape marsh called the meander scar will be left behind

Question 6

Where is an ox bow lake found

Answer 6

Middle course