Abstract The tectonic and fluvial setting of the Rhine-Meuse river system in the Lower Rhine Embayment rift system is exceptionally well known. The 19th century, pre-regulation river courses of three rivers are used to study a postulated sinuosity response to faulting. The fault-perpendicular Meuse River shows patterns of sinuosity changes at different spatial scales. The large-scale (> 5 km) sinuosity changes are related mainly to the faulting-induced changes of the subsurface lithology, determining the bed and bank characteristics. However, at a smaller scale, some fault-related channel sinuosity anomalies are observed. The fault-parallel Roer River shows sinuosity changes related to a normal, non-tectonic longitudinal gradient change. Sinuosity patterns of the Rhine River are predominantly related to lithological differences and reduced incision rates. Sinuosity can thus be an indicator of tectonic motions, but gradient, subsurface lithology and river bank composition determine sinuosity as well. Therefore, a sinuosity change is no proof for fault activity. On the other hand, the absence of a sinuosity change does not imply inactivity of a fault at geological time-scales.

中文翻译：

---

下莱茵湾裂谷系统中默兹河、鲁尔河和莱茵河的河道蜿蜒模式，它们是构造强迫的吗？

摘要 下莱茵河海湾裂谷系统中莱茵-默兹河系统的构造和河流环境是众所周知的。19 世纪，使用三条河流的预调节河道来研究对断层的假设曲率响应。与断层垂直的默兹河显示出不同空间尺度的曲率变化模式。大尺度（> 5 km）曲率变化主要与断层引起的地下岩性变化有关，决定了床和堤岸特征。然而，在较小的尺度上，观察到了一些与断层相关的通道曲率异常。与断层平行的鲁尔河显示出与正常的非构造纵向梯度变化相关的曲折变化。莱茵河的曲折模式主要与岩性差异和降低的切割率有关。因此，曲率可以作为构造运动的指标，但梯度、地下岩性和河岸成分也决定了曲率。因此，曲率变化不能证明断层活动。另一方面，不存在曲率变化并不意味着断层在地质时间尺度上不活动。