• chauncey [he/him]@hexbear.net
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    18
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    2 days ago

    See those “pinch points”? The river will eventually form meander cutoffs, and become a sinuous system rather than a meandering river. This will lead to localized increases in channel slope (due to a reduction in channel length), and therefore increased local velocities, shear stress, and sediment transport.

    Rivers are always seeking equilibrium, so the channel will actually start to move (bank erosion / lateral shifting) to reduce that localized slope and bring things back in order.

    Rivers are so fucking cool.