delta

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-007591",
  "term": "delta",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. A low relief landform composed of sediments deposited at the mouth of a river that commonly forms a triangular or fan-shaped plain of considerable area crossed by many channels from the main river; forms as the result of accumulation of sediment supplied by the river in such quantity that it is not removed by tidal or wave-driven currents.\n\n2. An alluvial deposit, usually triangular, at the mouth of a river of other stream. It is normally built up only where there is no tidal or current action capable of removing the sediment as fast as it is deposited, and hence the delta builds forward from the coastline. A tidal delta is a similar deposit at the mouth of a tidal inlet, put there by tidal currents.\n\n3. The low, nearly flat, alluvial tract of land at (or near) the mouth of a river. Deltas commonly form a triangular or fan-shaped plain of considerable area, which is crossed by many distributaries of the main river; deltas may extend beyond the general trend of the coast, and occur as a result of the accumulation of river sediment supplied in such quantities that it is not removed by tides, waves, and currents.\n\n4. Low relief landform composed of sediments deposited at the mouth of a river that commonly forms a triangular or fan-shaped plain of considerable area crossed by many channels from the main river; forms as the result of accumulation of sediment supplied by the river in such quantity that it is not removed by tidal or wave-driven currents.",
  "subject": "Water",
  "references": [
    "Coastal Sensitivity to Sea-level Rise Glossary and Acronyms",
    "NOAA Coastal Service Center Glossary of Coastal Terminology",
    "Federal Geographic Data Committee Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard, June 2012 FGDC-STD-018-2012",
    "Coastal Sensitivity Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/delta/"
}