erosional terrace
Quick Summary
An erosional terrace, also known as a river terrace, is a bench or step found along the side of a valley. It represents a former level of the valley floor that has been left standing above the current river level.1
These terraces form when a river experiences renewed downcutting due to hydrological or climatic shifts. They typically have a flat top, called a tread, which is often made of sedimentary deposits, and a steep front edge, known as a scarp.12
Erosional terraces can be cut into bedrock, sometimes with a thin layer of sediment on top, or they can be formed from bedrock of varying resistance. When terraces on opposite sides of a valley are at the same elevation, they are called paired terraces.132
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