Meandering Streams and River Features

The video tutorial explains the characteristics and dynamics of meandering streams, focusing on the predictable patterns of erosion and deposition. It introduces key landforms such as cut banks and point bars, and illustrates these concepts with real-world examples like the Merced River. The tutorial also discusses the evolution of meandering streams, highlighting features like meander scars and oxbow lakes.

What is the primary movement pattern of a meandering stream?

• Straight line

• Zigzag

• Snake-like

• Circular

What is the term for the outside bend of a meandering stream where erosion occurs?

• Delta

• Floodplain

• Point bar

• Cut bank

Where does deposition primarily occur in a meandering stream?

• Outside bend

• Inside bend

• Middle of the stream

• At the source

In the Merced River example, what indicates the presence of a cut bank?

• Falling trees

• Calm water

• Shallow water

• Sandy beaches

What happens to a river during a flood in terms of its meandering path?

• It dries up

• It stops flowing

• It creates new channels

• It straightens out

What are meander scars?

• Dry former-bends of a stream

• Eroded riverbanks

• Active river channels

• Newly formed lakes

What shape do oxbow lakes typically have?

• Rectangular

• Circular

• Horseshoe

• Triangular

What evidence of past river courses can be seen in the Fox River example?

• New river channels

• Deltas

• Meander scars

• Waterfalls

How do meander scars appear on the landscape?

• As flat plains

• As mountain ridges

• As halfmoon-shaped cuts

• As deep valleys

What is a common feature of oxbow lakes?

• They are always dry

• They are formed by glaciers

• They are horseshoe-shaped

• They are found in deserts