River capture is a geological phenomenon that occurs when one river diverts the flow of another river. In this article, we will explore what river capture is, how it happens, and its impacts on the surrounding environment.
Table of Contents
What is River Capture?
It occurs when one river captures the flow of another river. This can happen when a river erodes its way through a divide, which is a high point of land that separates two drainage basins. As the river erodes through the divide, it can capture the flow of another river and divert it into its own drainage basin.
How Does River Capture Happen?
It can happen through a variety of geological processes. One of the most common ways it occurs is through headward erosion. Headward erosion happens when a river erodes its way upstream, gradually lengthening its course and capturing the flow of smaller streams and rivers in the process.
Another way that it can occur is through tectonic activity. When the earth’s crust shifts and changes, it can alter the drainage patterns of rivers and cause one river to capture the flow of another.
Impacts
It can have significant impacts on the surrounding environment. For example, it can alter the flow of water and sediment through a landscape, which can impact erosion and the formation of landforms. It can also lead to changes in the distribution of aquatic species and affect the overall health of a river ecosystem.
Example of River Capture
One example is the case of the Chambal and Yamuna Rivers. The Chambal River used to flow into the Bay of Bengal, while the Yamuna River flowed into the Arabian Sea. However, around 4 million years ago, the river Chambal captured the flow of the Yamuna River through headward erosion, gradually extending its course upstream and diverting the flow of the Yamuna into its own drainage basin.
"Another famous example is the case of the River Thames and the River Medway in England. The River Thames captured the flow of the River Medway around 2 million years ago through headward erosion, which dramatically altered the landscape and drainage patterns of the region."
Significance
This had significant impacts on the surrounding environment. It changed the drainage patterns of the region, leading to the formation of new landforms and altering the distribution of aquatic species. It also played a role in the development of human civilization in the region, as communities adapted to the new river system created by the capture event.
It has shaped the landscapes and ecosystems of our planet for millions of years. Its study will remain an important area of research, providing valuable insights into the dynamic and ever-changing nature of our planet.
Read: Geography