Question

The image shows a stream with two bends. Identify the locations on the image where erosion and deposition occurs, as well as where the water flow is the fastest and slowest.

Answer 1

Erosion - A

Deposition - D

Maximum velocity - B

Minimum velocity - C

As the stream is depicted on this image, the curvature of it, as well as the movement of the water, we can easily make statements about which process occurs on which part.

Because the stream moves in the direction of A, it hits that bank harder before it turns into the other direction, causing erosion on that bank. Also, because the water has longer way to go towards A, B is having greater velocity as it moves more directly towards the bank.

The bank marked with B is the deposition area. This is due to the more gradual turning of the water and lower speed of it, thus losing its capacity to drag the material with it. C has the minimum velocity as the water slows down in the part where the marking is, losing its power in the process.