Which of the following best describes floodplains?
A)They rarely occur in a fluvial landscape created by an "old" river.
B)They are erosional landforms.
C)They often evolve after a stream has ceased downcutting at a significant rate.
D)They are the areas of a stream where terraces are present.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Floodplains often form after a stream has reached a state of equilibrium with its surroundings, where it is no longer downcutting or eroding its banks at a significant rate. They are low-lying areas adjacent to the stream channel that are periodically inundated by flooding, and are typically composed of layers of sediment deposited by the river over time. Option A is incorrect, as floodplains are common in fluvial landscapes, especially those formed by meandering rivers. Option B is incorrect, as floodplains are depositional landforms rather than erosional. Option D is incorrect, as terraces are features that form along the sides of valleys and hillslopes, rather than within the stream channel itself.

Which of the Following Best Describes Floodplains