潮州斷層位於台灣南部，是分隔中央山脈板岩帶與西部麓山帶的重要界限。據前人研究顯示，潮州斷層為一向東傾之高角度逆衝斷層，並帶有左移的分量。潮州斷層與許多主要河流相交，並於西部麓山帶山前形成眾多沖積扇，其分布之特性與構造活動息息相關，本研究是以地形計測指標為分析工具，針對台灣南部河流地形來探討潮州斷層及附近其他構造之活動量大小，並期能利用地表所展現之地形特徵來反推地下構造的型態與機制，瞭解潮州斷層是以何種活動型式作用於此區域。 本研究利用五千分之一相片基本圖、地形圖及40公尺數值地形資料，以地理資訊系統MapInfo為分析軟體，分別完成潮洲斷層沿線的地形計測參數:河流坡降指數、面積高度積分、集水區流域不對稱性，對比研究區域內地層分布、活動構造、河流地形特徵並與前人研究之資料相互對比，期能對此區域構造活動有進一步的瞭解。 研究結果顯示河流地形與潮州斷層的活動息息相關，潮州斷層沿線集水區的河流大部分都有向西偏移的現象，另外潮州斷層沿線的垂直抬升量由北往南有遞減的趨勢，且在旗山斷層與潮州斷層間構造運動相當活躍。 The Chaochou Fault, lying on the easternmost part of the Pingtung plain, is the geologic boundary between the slate belt to the east, and the Western Foothills to the west. According to the previous researches, the Chaochou fault is a high angle reverse fault that dips 75-80 degrees to the east. The fault intersects with many major rivers in the Southern Taiwan. The fault formed a lot of alluvial fans in the Western Foothills, and the distribution of the river seems to be highly related to the activity of the Chaochou Fault. In this study, we uses geomorphic indices to analyze the activity of the Chaochou Fault and the nearby structures. Topographic maps in different scales, and Digital Terrain Model in 40m resolution that covering the study area were used to study the geomorphic features. Geographic Information System（GIS）is used to data input, management, analysis and display. Geomorphic indices , included Hypsometric Integral, Stream Length-gradient Index, and Drainage Basin Asymmetry, are compared with the bedrock distribution, active structures, and geomorphic features to clarify the the activity of the Chaochou Fault. The result shows that the characteristic of river landforms is highly related to the activity of the Chaochou Fault. Most of the rivers along the Chaochou Fault in the study area shift to the west. The uplift rate is strong in the northern part of the Chaochou fault and progressively decreases to the South. The higher geomorphic indices suggest that greater tectonic activity occurs between the Chaochou Fault and the Chishan Fault.
