What is the moderate sinuosity ratio range?

The moderate sinuosity ratio typically refers to the degree to which a river or stream meanders, which is quantified by calculating the ratio between the length of the river's actual path compared to the straight-line distance between its endpoints. A sinuosity ratio that falls within the range of 1.2 to 1.4 indicates a moderate level of meandering; this means the river exhibits a clear, but not overly extensive, pattern of curves and bends, suggesting a balance between straight and curved segments.

Sinuosity ratios below this range indicate straight or less meandering channels, while higher ratios would reflect significantly winding or serpentine river patterns. Thus, the range of 1.2 to 1.4 effectively captures the characteristics of a moderately sinuous river, demonstrating a moderate level of meandering that influences various ecological and hydrological processes.