Climate aridity delays morphological response of Andean river valleys to tectonic uplift

Harries, Rebekah; Aron, Felipe; Kirstein, Linda A.

doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2023.108804

Cited by 3 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 97 publications

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“…Furthermore, upward deflections and high local relief positions observed in swath profiles (MeF, Figure 3a) support this interpretation. This finding adds to growing evidence that rivers have responded to fault uplift in the WAF by generating a propagating knickzone proximal to the fault, and widening river valleys upstream, distal from the fault (Harries et al, 2023).…”

Section: Relative Active Tectonics From Geomorphic Indicessupporting

confidence: 58%

“…North of 36 S, our results strongly support a climate-driven bedrock incision over long timescales rather than a tectonic uplift-driving incision (Harries et al, 2023;Stalder et al, 2020).…”

Section: Geomorphic Signatures To Tectonic And/or Climate Forcingsupporting

confidence: 55%

“…Mountain front sinuosity (Smf) trends indicate highly sinuous fronts (3.499 to 13.059) (Figures 5a and 6), corroborated by field observations and satellite imagery interpretation. We settle preliminary that not all west-verging thrust faults, which accommodated Andean uplift, are tectonically active (e.g., Armijo et al, 2010;Farías et al, 2008;Harries et al, 2023). Unexpectedly, low to intermediate Vf values (Vfmean = 0.41, Table 1) were observed in the catchments related to this inactive thrust front (Figure 5d).…”

Section: Relative Active Tectonics From Geomorphic Indicesmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…The erosion patterns are highly influenced by spatial variability of rock strength (Farías et al, 2008), these non-tectonic controls can be misleading interpretations of channel metrics. Precisely, these steeper channels coincide spatially with plutonic rock outcrops (Miocene) or lava flows from recent eruptions exposed on the surface (e.g., Descabezado Grande and Quizapú volcanoes) (e.g., Harries et al, 2023), which runs along the central section of the western flank of the Principal Cordillera (Figure 4c,d). However, these anomalies can be also detected in steep erosional topography near volcanic complexes induced by glacial erosion (Singer et al, 1997) (TSP Vn, Figure 4d).…”

Section: Relative Active Tectonics From Geomorphic Indicesmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Some segments present high values of THi* (e.g., S25b, S25a, S20) with class 1 or 2 (Figure 8). This result could be attributed to the fact that streams are unable to incise vertically due to a delay in the removal of sediment covers in response to vertical displacement (Harries et al, 2023) and therefore could not attain their base level (Bull, 2007). Changes in valley shape (e.g., valley-floor width), here determined from the Vf index, may be explained in response to disequilibrium conditions imposed by high sediment supply where the channel bed is protected from vertical incision ("cover effect") (Li et al, 2020;Marcotte et al, 2021;Sklar & Dietrich, 2004) or tectonically active induced (Wobus, Tucker, & Anderson, 2006;Turowski et al, 2006;Whittaker et al, 2007;Clubb et al, 2023).…”

Section: Geomorphic Signatures To Tectonic And/or Climate Forcingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geomorphic signatures of neotectonic activity along the Western Andean Front in the Chilean Andes (35°S to 37°S)

Oviedo‐Reyes,

Cortés‐Aranda,

Fernandez

et al. 2024

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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Characterizing neotectonic activity along mountain fronts in active orogens is the key to better understanding trajectories of landscape evolution, climatic‐tectonic couplings and natural hazards. One such prominent mountain front is the Western Andean Front (WAF), which defines the boundary between two main physiographic units along the Chilean Andes (15°S to 39°S): the Central Depression and Principal Cordillera. This study analyses the geomorphic imprints of neotectonic fault activity in the WAF between 35°S and 37°S. We used several topographic metrics, including the mountain‐front sinuosity index (Smf), the valley floor width‐to‐height ratio (Vf) and the stream length‐gradient (SL) index to gain information about the regional distribution of deformation patterns and its relative tectonic activity for distinctive segments. In addition, a raster map combining rock strength (RS) and mean annual precipitation (MAP) allowed discriminating lithology‐climate vs. tectonics influence on SL anomalies from catchments spanning from the main deformation zone to the regional drainage divide. We use the local relief and swath profiles to quantify the incision and transient state of mountain fronts to evaluate the geomorphic response to tectonic and/or climatic input. Our analysis highlights significant variations from north to south, delineating two distinct segments with different topographic, geomorphic and geometric fault characteristics. These segments are indented at approximately 36°S. From north to south, there is a segment with an inactive thrust front with a primarily climate‐driven fluvial response over long timescales and a second segment with a transient state adjusting to relatively high uplift rates. Morphometric data analysis, DEM‐based morpho‐structural maps, geological maps and previous research support the interpretation of two sets of neotectonic faults: (1) NNE‐striking reverse faults with a dextral slip component and (2) NW‐striking sinistral slip faults, likely a response to deformation partitioning caused by oblique subduction on a continental margin.

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Section: Relative Active Tectonics From Geomorphic Indicessupporting

confidence: 58%

Section: Geomorphic Signatures To Tectonic And/or Climate Forcingsupporting

confidence: 55%

Section: Relative Active Tectonics From Geomorphic Indicesmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Relative Active Tectonics From Geomorphic Indicesmentioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Geomorphic Signatures To Tectonic And/or Climate Forcingmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Geomorphic signatures of neotectonic activity along the Western Andean Front in the Chilean Andes (35°S to 37°S)

Oviedo‐Reyes,

Cortés‐Aranda,

Fernandez

et al. 2024

Earth Surf Processes Landf

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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The Neogene to Quaternary evolution of the Neuquén Andes broken foreland forced by tectonic, climatic and surface processes (southern Central Andes)

Messager,

Huyghe,

Bonnel

et al. 2023

Journal of South American Earth Sciences

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The interplay of lithology, tectonics and climate in the morphology of Corsica

Harries,

Lavarini,

Kirstein

et al. 2024

JGS

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The morphology of the landscape on the island of Corsica in the western Mediterranean is transient with clear topographic asymmetry. The geology of the island can be divided into two units – Hercynian Corsica and Alpine Corsica, with contrasting lithology, climate and structural controls between them. Here, topographic analysis is used to assess the influence of each of these factors on landscape form. Disequilibrium in the landscape is illustrated by analysing chi and Gilbert metrics which indicate active drainage divide migration, along with a new metric that quantifies tributary heights above the main stem channel. Climate in the region has fluctuated dramatically from the Messinian salinity crisis through to Quaternary glaciation. However, analysis of the size and distribution of knickpoints across the island does not reflect specific base-level changes. Instead, basement structures control valley orientation and conditioning of the landscape by glaciation exerts strong controls on drainage evolution.

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Climate aridity delays morphological response of Andean river valleys to tectonic uplift

Cited by 3 publications

References 97 publications

Geomorphic signatures of neotectonic activity along the Western Andean Front in the Chilean Andes (35°S to 37°S)

Geomorphic signatures of neotectonic activity along the Western Andean Front in the Chilean Andes (35°S to 37°S)

The Neogene to Quaternary evolution of the Neuquén Andes broken foreland forced by tectonic, climatic and surface processes (southern Central Andes)

The interplay of lithology, tectonics and climate in the morphology of Corsica

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