Which outcome develops when excess sediment loads overwhelm alluvial terraces?

💡 Explanation

Increased bedload chokes the channel; river gradient increases. Aggradation overwhelms the terrace system via sediment deposition rather than remaining in a former incised state. This leads to increased energy for lateral erosion and channel braiding because this is preferred over terrace stabilization or incision.

• Which outcome occurs when rapid snowmelt overwhelms levees?
• Which process determines arc abandonment creating an oxbow lake after prolonged channel sinuosity?
• Which outcome occurs when vegetation cover declines at dunes?
• Which outcome occurs when water undergoes evaporative enrichment within a carbonatic cave system?
• Which volcanic outcome often results when rising magma encounters thick continental crust rich in silica?
• Which long-term outcome results when bioturbation weakens permafrost?