Entrenched Meanders Lab
The following questions are based on Map T-7, the “Canyonlands National Park, Utah” topographic map. The map shows the deeply entrenched meanders of the Green River in Canyonlands National Park, Utah. The contour interval of the map is 80 feet.
1. How deep is the gorge of the Green River? Use the top of the land inside “Bowknot Bend” as your upper reference point. 300m deep
2. Describe where a cutoff meander developed in the past (describe the location relative to labeled
places on the map). At Horseshoe Canyon
3a. Did the cutoff occur before or after the entrenchement began?
After
3b. How do you know?
Because entrenchment at high relief areas.
4. Describe where another cutoff meander might develop in the future (describe the location relative to labeled places on the map).
Bowknot curve
5a. The gorge wall on the outside of most meander turns is noticeably steeper than the gorge walls on the inside of the meander turn. Find an example of this on the map and describe the location?
On Tidwell Bottom. The gorge wall is steeper on left than right side.
5b. Why is it that the gorge wall on the outside of most meander turns is noticeably steeper than the gorge walls on the inside of the meander turn? The gorge wall being steeper on left than right side indicates erosion.
