FISHER: RIVER TERRACES. 
15 
processes of river action according to the accepted theory and its 
deduced consequences. To 
this end, the lateral move¬ 
ment of a meandering river 
may be considered. 
So far as these processes 
have been presented, they 
are: (1) the meander process, 
(2) the cut-off process, (3) the 
short-cut process. 
Lateral swinging by mean¬ 
der process .— Considering the 
first point, — the work of a 
meandering stream (Davis, 
’03) is that of erosion upon 
the outer bank of its mean¬ 
der where the current strikes 
with greatest force, and of 
deposition upon the inner 
bank where the water is shal¬ 
low. The current is not only 
swinging laterally, but is also 
flowing down-stream, de¬ 
grading its channel to sea 
level. Consequently the ero¬ 
sion is not only at the outer¬ 
most portion of the bend, 
but the downward motion of 
the water carries the current 
strongly against the outer and 
lower side. Hence the de¬ 
posit is continuous and forms 
an even plain, sloping toward 
the river. Attention is called 
to the accompanying text-fig¬ 
ure C, illustrating in plan the work accomplished by the meandering 
river, and showing that by equal erosion on one bank and deposition 
on the opposite bank, the entire channel of the river without changing 
width may move laterally across the valley, while the stream is steadily 
moving down the valley. 
Fig. C. — River flowing forward in normal 
symmetrical curves. Meander belt widen¬ 
ing by equal erosion on outer bank of the 
meanders and deposition on the inner bank. 
Erosion is strongest on outer and lower side 
of each meander hence the entire channel 
of the river moves laterally while meanders 
move progressively down-stream. 
