Interactive Animation: Stream Processes: Oxbow Lakes and Floodplain Development

Where do deposition and erosion of material occur along a meander?

Deposition occurs on the inside of the meander, whereas erosion occurs on the outside

What is a meander scar?

a landscape feature formed after an oxbow lake dries up

What is an oxbow lake?

a meander that has been cut off from the original stream channel

What is the dominant fluvial process in a clear, sediment-poor stream moving down a steep slope?

downcutting

What type of stream is associated with the formation of an oxbow lake?

meandering stream

Which processes result in the widening of the floodplain of a meandering stream? Which processes result in the widening of the floodplain of a meandering stream?

undercutting and lateral erosion

How are oxbow lakes formed?

Oxbow lakes form when one meander erodes into another, cutting off water to part of the stream channel.