Meandering Dove

Terminology time!

What is a 'river bank'?  Which is left and which is right?

Looking from the source of the river downwards to the sea, the left side of the river where the land meets the water is the 'left bank', and the other side is the 'right bank'.

What is 'erosion'?  How does something 'erode'?

A river bank erodes when the land is eaten away by the river.  This could be small particles over a long time, or if the river energy is high enough it could be huge chunks that then either disolve into small aprticles to get carried in tehw ater, or fall to the bottom and make the river more shallow.

What is a 'meander'?

When a river runs through a floodplain it naturally meanders - starts to bend here and there in graceful curves. The water pressure erodes any riverbank that it hits (A), creating a cliff, or 'slip-off slope' is the proper term, and carrying some of the soil's particles with it into the next bend.  Where the water pressure is lower, with lower energy, this silt drops to the bottom more easily and starts to build up inner banks into beaches (B).

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Look across the river and locate the opposite bank - the 'left bank'.  It looks verty different from this (right) bank doesn't it? Let's work out what is happening here - Let's make some observations and see if we can explain what is going on.

Q1: Compare the left and right banks here.  Where the land touches the water, tell me which (left or right) is a 'cliff' and which is a 'beach', and say why.

Q2: Look at the diagram above.  Where do you think you are currently standing, place A (fast water) or place B (slow water), and say why.

Q3: Make an observation: look at the water in the River Dove and judge what is really happening. Do you think your answer to Q2 is right, and therefore suggest what will happen in future to the near and far banks.

Send you answers to us via the message centre or email as per our profile.  We'll accept answers that show you've tried to understand the science here.