Forced meander
A forced meander is one of the meanders and describes (usually deep) incised meanders with mostly symmetrical cross-sections.
These can be “inherited” from river loops, which as a rule originate from washouts on banks ( impact slope ) caused by the dynamics of the water and then cut deeper and deeper into a relief due to sole and deep erosion .
Forced meander formation does not necessarily require free river bends, but can also develop from geological conditions ( petrography ). Suitable starting positions are resistant, flat sedimentary rocks , e.g. B. Hauptbuntsandstein , Hauptmuschelkalk , Wellenkalk or Weißjurakalk , as well as in the rocks of the earth folds running in the southwest-northeast-direction orogeny (variscan orogenesis ) of the trunk of Central Europe .
The river endeavors to restore the disturbed equilibrium through a smaller gradient, whereby the resistant rock slab forces it to form loops. The loops lead to changes in running and a reduction in incline. Then the material supplied is transported away by the movement of the water. Even in a state of equilibrium, rivers produce deep erosion . In this way, the loops cut deeper and deeper into the rock.
literature
- Forced meander. In: H readers: Diercke dictionary general geography. ( Memento from September 25, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) 12th edition. Munich 1997.
