Which mechanism increases flood risk downstream of a newly formed oxbow lake?

💡 Explanation

When an oxbow lake forms, the river short-cuts its path, because channel avulsion concentrates flow through a steeper, more direct route, resulting in increased velocity and thus increased downstream flood risk. Therefore decreased slope increases flow velocity potentially increases downstream flood risk, rather than decreasing the flow or increasing groundwater recharge.

• Which geological risk increases when thawing permafrost destabilizes boreal forest soil?
• Which consequence results when longshore drift encounters a deepwater submarine canyon?
• Which process causes the formation of distributary channels on an alluvial fan?
• Which consequence results from the impact of ocean eddies on coastal upwelling?
• Which outcome results when the ocean's mixing layer weakens?
• Which outcome occurs when a subducting oceanic plate hydrates?