Which risk increases downstream from an artificially straightened meander resulting in an oxbow lake cutoff?

💡 Explanation

When a meander is straightened, the stream gradient increases because water flows a shorter distance, leading to higher stream power and velocity, accelerating erosion. Therefore bank erosion and channel incision increases, rather than silt deposition, biodiversity decrease, or groundwater recharge decrease which require reduced flow energy.

• Which risk increases along a floodplain when alluvial mining removes substantial sediment?
• Which risk increases when an alluvial river channel is artificially straightened along its floodplain?
• Which long-term isostatic process elevates previously submerged fjord landscapes?
• Which crustal deformation mechanism generates strike-slip faults along a transform boundary edge?
• Which outcome is caused by creep along a major fault?
• Which outcome occurs when deforestation exposes streambeds extensively?