drying up of a riverbed surface
Refers to a river or stream becoming so shallow that the riverbed is exposed, often due to drought or water diversion. Used in geographical and environmental contexts.
This summer there was little rain, and drying up of riverbeds occurred in many places.
Because the riverbed dried up, fish could no longer swim upstream.
Compound of 瀬 (se, 'shallows, rapids') and 切れ (gire, from 切れる 'to be cut off, to run out'). The term literally means 'shallows cut off', describing a river section where water flow ceases and the bed becomes exposed.