Changes

A meandering river is one with a channel pattern that displays high sinuosity in plan view (sinuosity greater than 1.5). Meanders are most commonly associated with rivers displaying nonerratic flooding characteristics, high suspended-sediment load (generally fine-grained bedload), and low downslope gradient. Most meandering rivers occur in tropical and temperate climates, where suspended loads and high annual flooding are common, but they will also occur in arctic and arid climates.

A meandering river is one with a channel pattern that displays high sinuosity in plan view (sinuosity greater than 1.5). Meanders are most commonly associated with rivers displaying nonerratic flooding characteristics, high suspended-sediment load (generally fine-grained bedload), and low downslope gradient. Most meandering rivers occur in tropical and temperate climates, where suspended loads and high annual flooding are common, but they will also occur in arctic and arid climates.

Meandering rivers are most common in alluvial valleys of river systems, but in several modern river deltas meandering sections of the distributaries are present, especially in rivers where distributaries are influenced by high tidal ranges or in rivers carrying extremely large coarse bedload sediment.

Meandering rivers are most common in [[alluvial]] valleys of river systems, but in several modern river deltas meandering sections of the distributaries are present, especially in rivers where distributaries are influenced by high tidal ranges or in rivers carrying extremely large coarse bedload sediment.

The channel profile normally displays an asymmetric V shape, the steep cutting bank is referred to as the cut bank; the shallow-sloping depositing side is termed the point bar. Maximum flow velocities are found near the steep concave bank, while lower velocities are present along the point-bar side of the channel. Undercutting of the cut-bank side of the channel during a flood causes oversteepening and slumping of the channel wall. Locally, where the channel scours into sandy deposits, high flood levels (excessive hydraulic head) force river water into the buried sand body. A sudden drop in the river level results in excess pore-water pressure in the buried sand, and water and sand flow back into the river, causing slumping in the overlying bank deposits. In either case, the slumping results in an increase of the channel's cross-sectional area, thereby reducing velocity and causing deposition on the point-bar side of the channel.

The channel profile normally displays an asymmetric V shape, the steep cutting bank is referred to as the cut bank; the shallow-sloping depositing side is termed the point bar. Maximum flow velocities are found near the steep concave bank, while lower velocities are present along the point-bar side of the channel. Undercutting of the cut-bank side of the channel during a flood causes oversteepening and slumping of the channel wall. Locally, where the channel scours into sandy deposits, high flood levels (excessive hydraulic head) force river water into the buried sand body. A sudden drop in the river level results in excess pore-water pressure in the buried sand, and water and sand flow back into the river, causing slumping in the overlying bank deposits. In either case, the slumping results in an increase of the channel's cross-sectional area, thereby reducing velocity and causing deposition on the point-bar side of the channel.