Patterns in river channel sinuosity of the Meuse, Roer and Rhine rivers in the Lower Rhine Embayment rift-system, are they tectonically forced?

H.A.G Woolderink,K.M Cohen,C Kasse,M.G Kleinhans,R.T Van Balen

doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2020.107550

H.A.G Woolderink, K.M Cohen + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2020.107550

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Journal: Geomorphology	Publication Date: Dec 3, 2020
Citations: 17	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Utrecht University, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

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.

Highlights

IntroductionThe effect of tectonic vertical motions on (alluvial) river response has been a matter of interest over the past decades (Burnett and Schumm 1983; Ouchi 1985; Leeder and Alexander 1987; Holbrook and Schumm 1999; Marple and Talwani 2000, Buratto et al, 2003; Jain and Sinha 2005; Holbrook et al 2006; Aswathy et al 2008; Taha and Anderson 2008; Petrovszki and Timar, 2010, Arcos 2012; Lahiri and Sinha 2012; Mack et al 2012; Whitney and Hengesh 2015)
Most of the studies on the effects of tectonic vertical motions and river response show that sinuosity changes provide a means, as a geomorphic indicator, to identify active deformation from fluvial stratigraphic and -morphologic archives, which can be of large value for earthquake studies as demonstrated by Holbrook et al (2006)
The aim of this study is to investigate the possible role of tectonics as a forcing factor on river channel sinuosity

Summary

Introduction

The effect of tectonic vertical motions on (alluvial) river response has been a matter of interest over the past decades (Burnett and Schumm 1983; Ouchi 1985; Leeder and Alexander 1987; Holbrook and Schumm 1999; Marple and Talwani 2000, Buratto et al, 2003; Jain and Sinha 2005; Holbrook et al 2006; Aswathy et al 2008; Taha and Anderson 2008; Petrovszki and Timar, 2010, Arcos 2012; Lahiri and Sinha 2012; Mack et al 2012; Whitney and Hengesh 2015). A normal fault that is downstepping in upstream direction may lead to a reduced gradient and, sinuosity (Ouchi 1985; Holbrook and Schumm 1999). Most of the studies on the effects of tectonic vertical motions and river response show that sinuosity changes provide a means, as a geomorphic indicator, to identify active deformation from fluvial stratigraphic and -morphologic archives, which can be of large value for earthquake studies as demonstrated by Holbrook et al (2006)

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