Soumadeep Nag posted an Question
February 24, 2023 • 16:45 pm 30 points
  • IIT JAM
  • Geology (GG)

What is ox bow lake?

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    Sajan sarthak

    An oxbow lake is a crescent-shaped body of water that forms when a meandering river or stream cuts off a loop, or "meander," from its main course. Over time, the river's flow erodes the neck of the loop, and the loop becomes detached from the main channel. This process is known as "meander cutoff." Here's how the formation of an oxbow lake typically occurs: 1. **Meandering River:** In a meandering river, the water flow curves and winds its way across the landscape. This results in the formation of bends or meanders. 2. **Erosion and Deposition:** The outer bank of a meander experiences greater erosion due to the faster water flow and greater kinetic energy. The inner bank, where water flows more slowly, accumulates sediment through deposition. 3. **Meander Cutoff:** Over time, the erosion on the outer bank increases, causing the meander to expand. Eventually, the erosion becomes significant enough that the river begins to cut across the narrow neck of land between the two bends. 4. **Cutoff Completion:** As erosion continues, the river's flow gradually separates the loop from the main channel, forming a new, separate body of water. This crescent-shaped water body is the oxbow lake. 5. **Ongoing Changes:** Oxbow lakes can change over time due to sediment deposition, vegetation growth, and other natural processes. They might eventually become isolated from the river's flow, resulting in a calm and sometimes stagnant water body. Oxbow lakes are commonly found in areas with meandering rivers and relatively flat terrain. They provide insights into the dynamic nature of river systems and their interaction with the surrounding landscape. Over time, oxbow lakes can become habitats for various aquatic plants, animals, and bird species.

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    Ankit pandey

    explanation water flows faster past the outside bank of a curve in a river, and slower on the inside. Faster moving water erodes the bank faster than slower moving water. This causes the curve to tighten its radius and to move laterally. At some point, perhaps after a flood, the curve is cut off from the river, an ox/bow lake is formed and the river straightens

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