Meander

A stream bed following a tilted valley. The maximum gradient is along the down-valley axis represented by a hypothetical straight coast channel. Meanders develop, which lengthen the course of the stream, decreasing the gradient.

A meander is one of a series of regular sinuous curves in the channel of a river or other watercourse. It is produced as a watercourse erodes the sediments of an outer, concave bank (cut bank or river cliff) and deposits sediments on an inner, convex bank which is typically a point bar. The result of this coupled erosion and sedimentation is the formation of a sinuous course as the channel migrates back and forth across the axis of a floodplain.^[1]^[2]

The zone within which a meandering stream periodically shifts its channel is known as a meander belt. It typically ranges from 15 to 18 times the width of the channel. Over time, meanders migrate downstream, sometimes in such a short time as to create civil engineering challenges for local municipalities attempting to maintain stable roads and bridges.^[1]^[2]

The degree of meandering of the channel of a river, stream, or other watercourse is measured by its sinuosity. The sinuosity of a watercourse is the ratio of the length of the channel to the straight line down-valley distance. Streams or rivers with a single channel and sinuosities of 1.5 or more are defined as meandering streams or rivers.^[1]^[3]

^ ^a ^b ^c Neuendorf, K.K.E., J.P. Mehl Jr., and J.A. Jackson, J.A., eds. (2005) Glossary of Geology (5th ed.). Alexandria, Virginia, American Geological Institute. 779 pp. ISBN 0-922152-76-4
^ ^a ^b Charlton, R., 2007. Fundamentals of fluvial geomorphology. Routledge, New York, New York. 234 pp. ISBN 0-415-33453-5
^ Leopold, L.B., Wolman, M.G., Wolman, M.G. and Wolman, M.G., 1957. River Channel Patterns: Braided, Meandering, and Straight. United States Geological Survey Professional Paper no. 282B, US Government Printing Office, Washington DC., 47 pp.

[NeuendorfOthers2005a-1] Neuendorf, K.K.E., J.P. Mehl Jr., and J.A. Jackson, J.A., eds. (2005) Glossary of Geology (5th ed.). Alexandria, Virginia, American Geological Institute. 779 pp. ISBN 0-922152-76-4

[Charlton2007a-2] Charlton, R., 2007. Fundamentals of fluvial geomorphology. Routledge, New York, New York. 234 pp. ISBN 0-415-33453-5

[LeopoldOthers1957a-3] Leopold, L.B., Wolman, M.G., Wolman, M.G. and Wolman, M.G., 1957. River Channel Patterns: Braided, Meandering, and Straight. United States Geological Survey Professional Paper no. 282B, US Government Printing Office, Washington DC., 47 pp.

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