MEANDER SERIES 

BACKGROUND

I have included meandering lines and forms in several of my shaped paintings/wall sculptures because I find them aesthetically pleasing. 

Meanders are winding curves or bends found primarily in rivers and streams. These natural formations also have an interesting origin. They are the result of dynamic processes of erosion and transport of the resulting sediment by flowing water. When water flows through a river channel, the speed of the current varies across the bend. Currents on the outside of a curve are faster and stronger erode the riverbank and deepening the channel. Currents on the inside of the bend are slower and deposit sediment, gradually building up the inner bank and accentuating the curve of the meander.

Over time, meanders continuously change their form due to the ongoing processes of erosion and deposition. As the outer banks erode and inner banks accumulate sediment, meanders can become more pronounced. In some cases, the bends may become so extreme that the river cuts through the narrow neck of a loop during a flood event, creating a new, straighter channel and leaving behind an oxbow lake—a crescent-shaped body of water isolated from the mainstream.

Meanders have considerable ecological importance. The sediment deposited in the slower currents supports vegetation growth along the banks, creating habitats for a variety of terrestrial animals and plants. The diverse aquatic environments created by meandering channels and oxbow lakes provide habitat for numerous aquatic species, thereby enhancing biodiversity. 

Human activities can significantly impact the formation and preservation of meanders. Excavation, dumping of soil and debris, and construction projects such as bridges and dams alter the natural flow of water, create artificial barriers, or form new channels. These changes can lead to the degradation or loss of natural meander structures.

Edited using Theobot.ai