Which process primarily causes the formation of oxbow lakes in low-gradient fluvial systems?

💡 Explanation

When a river meanders across a floodplain, differential erosion occurs because the outer bend erodes faster than the inner bend. This leads to a cut-off, creating an oxbow lake. Therefore differential erosion from meander migration results, rather than tectonic subsidence, glacial scouring or volcanic ash deposition, which involve different geological forces.

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