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Evolution of cutoffs across meander necks in Powder River, Montana, USA
Author(s) -
Gay Glenn R.,
Gay Hubert H.,
Gay William H.,
Martinson Holly A.,
Meade Robert H.,
Moody John A.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
earth surface processes and landforms
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.294
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1096-9837
pISSN - 0197-9337
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9837(199807)23:7<651::aid-esp891>3.0.co;2-v
Subject(s) - meander (mathematics) , overbank , geology , hydrology (agriculture) , river valley , floodplain , bank , river bed , bed load , channel (broadcasting) , cutoff , geomorphology , geotechnical engineering , fluvial , archaeology , geography , geometry , sediment transport , physics , mathematics , cartography , engineering , structural basin , quantum mechanics , sediment , electrical engineering
Over a period of several decades, gullies have been observed in various stages of forming, growing and completing the cutoff of meander necks in Powder River. During one episode of overbank flow, water flowing over the down‐stream bank of the neck forms a headcut. The headcut migrates up‐valley, forming a gully in its wake, until it has traversed the entire neck, cutting off the meander. The river then follows the course of the gully, which is subsequently enlarged as the river develops its new channel. The complete process usually requires several episodes of high water: in only one of the five cases described herein was a meander cutoff initiated and completed during a single large flood. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.