Erosion rates and orogenic-wedge kinematics in Taiwan inferred from fission-track thermochronometry

Willett, Sean D.; Fisher, Donald M.; Fuller, C. W.; Yeh, En Chao; Chang-yi, LU

doi:10.1130/g19702.1

Cited by 208 publications

(208 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…[21] Without any variation in topography, material properties or erosion rate along strike, the 3-D two-sided wedge develops exactly as the equivalent 2-D two-sided wedge described often in the literature [e.g., Koons, 1990;Beaumont et al, 1992;Willett et al, 2003;Hoth et al, 2006Hoth et al, , 2007. The resolution of our 3-D models is necessarily coarser than that of most analog and 2-D numerical models and thus we are unable to model the actual thrust spacing (i.e., that observed in the field) in detail.…”

Section: Reference Model With No Variation Along Strike (Model 0)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Taiwan lies in the path of strong typhoons, averaging four per year, has a subtropical climate and a mean precipitation of 2.5 m/a [Wu and Kuo, 1999]. High rainfall and relief, easily eroded sediments or their weakly metamorphosed equivalents all contribute to high erosion rates recorded in Taiwan [e.g., Willett et al, 2003;Dadson et al, 2003;Fuller et al, 2006].…”

Section: The Puli Embayment Taiwan: An Example?mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Three‐dimensional numerical models with varied material properties and erosion rates: Implications for the mechanics and kinematics of compressive wedges

2009

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[1] We develop three-dimensional mechanical models of a compressive wedge and investigate how the form and kinematics of the outboard wedge are affected by variation in initial topography, material properties, and erosion rate. Inclusion into the wedge of weaker, less dense material affects the form of the wedge, producing a region of steeper average slopes and higher topography while depriving the region further inboard of material. Enhanced erosion has a similar effect. The wedge attempts to replace the eroded material by focusing deformation. The result is a stepped region of lower topography within the outboard of the orogen. We observe that uplift velocities at three points in the orogen vary cyclically from near zero to $3 times the average uplift rate over cycles lasting on the order of 15-200,000 model years. Our models, along with analog models and some well-dated examples from active orogens, suggest that transient accommodation of strain may be common. The cycles observed responded rapidly to changes in the amount of erosion imposed. Our models suggest that orogens may be driven by strong coupling between erosion and strain on temporal scales of 10 4 -10 5 years and spatial scales comparable to the scale of the erosional perturbation. We compare our models to the Puli Embayment of west central Taiwan, a region of anomalous low topography and suggest that it presence may reflect the presence of weaker and more erodible sediments than those present along strike in the orogen.Citation: Upton, P., K. Mueller, and Y.-G. Chen (2009), Three-dimensional numerical models with varied material properties and erosion rates: Implications for the mechanics and kinematics of compressive wedges,

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Section: Reference Model With No Variation Along Strike (Model 0)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Puli Embayment Taiwan: An Example?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Three‐dimensional numerical models with varied material properties and erosion rates: Implications for the mechanics and kinematics of compressive wedges

2009

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“…The subduction of the Philippine Sea plate beneath the Eurasian Continental plate has resulted in the formation of an active mountain belt with over 200 peaks higher than 3000 m a.s.l. (Ho 1986;Teng 1990) and is responsible for frequent large earthquakes and an orogenic uplift rate of about 5-7 mm/year (Li 1976;Willett et al 2003). The geological map provided by the Central Geological Survey of Taiwan (Ho 1988) illustrates the seven major geological zones of Taiwan (Fig.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Rainfall intensity–duration conditions for mass movements in Taiwan

Chen

Saitô

Oguchi

2015

Prog. in Earth and Planet. Sci.

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Mass movements caused by rainfall events in Taiwan are analyzed during a 7-year period from 2006 to 2012. Data from the Taiwan Soil and Water Conservation Bureau reports were compiled for 263 mass movement events, including 156 landslides, 91 debris flows, and 16 events with both landslides and debris flows. Rainfall totals for each site location were obtained from interpolated rain gauge data. The rainfall intensity-duration (I-D) relationship was examined to establish a rainfall threshold for mass movements using random sampling: I = 18.10(±2.67)D −0.17(±0.04) , where I is mean rainfall intensity (mm/h) and D is the time (h) between the beginning of a rainfall event and the resulting mass movement. Significant differences were found between rainfall intensities and thresholds for landslides and debris flows. For short-duration rainfall events, higher mean rainfall intensities were required to trigger debris flows. In contrast, for long-duration rainfall events, similar mean rainfall intensities triggered both landslides and debris flows. Mean rainfall intensity was rescaled by mean annual precipitation (MAP) to define a new threshold: I MAP = 0.0060(±0.0009)D −0.17(±0.04) , where I MAP is rescaled rainfall intensity and MAP is the minimum for mountainous areas in Taiwan (3000 mm). Although the I-D threshold for Taiwan is high, the I MAP -D threshold for Taiwan tends to be low relative to other areas around the world. Our results indicate that Taiwan is highly prone to rainfall-induced mass movements. This study also shows that most mass movements occur in high rainfall-intensity periods, but some events occur before or after the rainfall peak. Both antecedent and peak rainfall play important roles in triggering landslides, whereas debris flow occurrence is more related to peak rainfall than antecedent rainfall.

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“…However, field geologists, geodesists, and geodynamic modelers alike agree that the motion of bedrock within convergent orogens commonly includes large lateral or horizontal components. On both observational and theoretical grounds it is clear that mountain ranges and their structures, ranging from fold-andthrust belts [e.g., Suppe, 1983;Lavé and Avouac, 2000] to small orogens such as the Southern Alps of New Zealand and the Central Range of Taiwan [Wellman, 1979;Adams, 1985;Koons, 1990;Willett et al, 1993;Willett, 1999;Willett et al, 2003] to large orogenic plateaus and their margins [Willett et al, 1993;Bilham et al, 1997;Beaumont et al, 2001;Hodges et al, 2001;Beaumont et al, 2004] have lateral bedrock velocity components equal to or greater than the vertical components [Willett et al, 2001].…”

Section: Motivationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characteristics of steady state fluvial topography above fault‐bend folds

2007

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[1] In steady state convergent orogens, erosion balances lateral as well as vertical bedrock motions. For simple geometrical reasons, the difference between the total steady state erosion flux and its vertical component is up to 30% for typical fluvial slopes and bedrock streamline inclinations, suggesting that lateral advection is also likely to be expressed topographically. In order to understand these geomorphologic consequences, we focus on steady state topography developed on active fault-bend folds. First, we derive an analytical solution for the slopes of detachment-limited streams that incorporates lateral advection. Next, we conduct experiments using a numerical two-dimensional landscape evolution model (Channel-Hillslope Integrated Landscape Development model (CHILD)) incorporating linear diffusion on hillslopes and detachment-limited stream channel incision above a fault-bend fold. The concavity and steepness indices of steady state long profiles are functions of bedrock velocity magnitude and direction, streamflow direction, and fluvial erosivity. Asymmetry of mountain range profiles varies as a function of fluvial erosivity or bedrock velocity only if we account for the lateral velocity component. This asymmetry is equally sensitive to this lateral component, fluvial incision, and hillslope diffusion. However, the effect of diffusion on drainage divide position is significant only at high diffusivities, short length scales, low bedrock advection rates, or relatively low fluvial erosivity. Thus in most mountain ranges and fault blocks, drainage divide migration is expected to be dictated by stream channel erosion. Model results are shown to be consistent with topography in the Siwalik Hills, Nepal, which overlie fault-bend folds produced above the frontal fault systems in the Himalayan foreland.

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Erosion rates and orogenic-wedge kinematics in Taiwan inferred from fission-track thermochronometry

Cited by 208 publications

References 16 publications

Three‐dimensional numerical models with varied material properties and erosion rates: Implications for the mechanics and kinematics of compressive wedges

Three‐dimensional numerical models with varied material properties and erosion rates: Implications for the mechanics and kinematics of compressive wedges

Rainfall intensity–duration conditions for mass movements in Taiwan

Characteristics of steady state fluvial topography above fault‐bend folds

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