Lateral displacement of a stream from its main channel into a new course across its floodplain. Normally it is a result of the instability caused by channel aggradation. The avulsion of a stream into an adjacent valley may explain some cases of apparent river capture.
Avulsion
The abandonment of all or part of a channel belt in favour of a new course (Stouthaven and Berensen (2007) Sed. Geol. 198). Makaske (2001) Earth-Science Revs 53 argues that bed aggradation reduces channel carrying capacity, increases overbank flooding and sedimentation, and eventually results in avulsion. See Jerolmack and Paola (2007) Geomorph. 91, 3–4 for a cellular model of river avulsion.
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