Spatial differences in rock uplift rates inferred from channel steepness indices along the northern flank of the Qilian Mountain, northeast Tibetan Plateau

Hu, Xiaofei; Pan, Baotian; Kirby, Eric; Li, QingYang; Geng, Haopeng; Chen, Jifeng

doi:10.1007/s11434-010-4024-4

Cited by 63 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…The stream-power incision model describing fluvial incision and landscape evolution is widely used to explore river morphology evolution (Harkins et al, 2007;Hu et al, 2010;Kirby & Whipple, 2003;Zhang et al, 2011). Neglecting hillslope processes, the evolution of a landscape is governed by the competition between rock uplift and fluvial erosion (Gasparini, Whipple, & Bras, 2007), as:…”

Section: Theoretical Framework and Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Under such conditions, the channel longitudinal profile is relatively smooth with a concave-down shape (Zhang et al, 2011;Hu et al, 2010;Whipple, 2004).…”

Section: Theoretical Framework and Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, it is complicated to quantitatively extract the tectonic uplift rate from the channel longitudinal profile due to some uncertainties of precipitation, river erosion and other factors. However, based on extensive investigation and analysis, the distribution of the steepness index is relatively consistent with tectonic activity and local variations in the relative rate of tectonic uplift can be qualitatively determined from channel longitudinal profile analysis (Duvall et al, 2004;Hu et al, 2010;Kirby & Whipple, 2003;Snyder et al, 2000Snyder et al, , 2003Wobus et al, 2006).…”

Section: Theoretical Framework and Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our regression is only limited to the bedrock channels. Colluvial sections on the upper reaches and alluvial channels adjacent to piedmont plains are omitted from the regression analysis (Hu et al, 2010;Kirby & Whipple, 2003;Snyder et al, 2000). In Longmen Shan Fault zone, deep valleys and steep cliffs developed distinctly, and elevations changed significantly.…”

Section: Theoretical Framework and Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thrust fault and normal fault activity can lead to changes in a river's longitudinal profile. A number of parameterisations of river longitudinal profiles have been successfully developed for quantitatively investigating the processes and styles of channel responses to tectonic uplift in tectonic geomorphologic research (Hu et al, 2010;Kirby & Whipple, 2003;Snyder, Whipple, Tucker, & Merritts, 2000Wobus et al, 2006). In active tectonic areas, the channel steepness indices have a positive linear relation with different tectonic uplift rates (Hu et al, 2010;Snyder et al, 2000;Wobus et al, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geomorphic indices of rivers and drainage in China’s Longmen Shan Fault zone and their implications for regional tectonic activity

et al. 2015

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Theoretical models suggest that active tectonic deformation can impose a primary control on the patterns and styles of channels. The Longmen Shan Fault zone, which is located on the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, has experienced strong tectonic activity, including uplift and strike-slip phases of tectonic movements. Here, we adopt ASTER-GDEM2 data and utilise a stream-power incision model to extract information on the spatial characteristics of differential tectonic movements. Analysis of the patterns and styles of 37 channels exhibits systematic differences in the channel steepness indices and the river sinuosity values along the strike of the Longmen Shan Fault zone. Our primary results demonstrate that the normalised channel steepness indices in the southern part of the Longmen Shan Fault zone are much higher than those in the northern part, where the river sinuosity values are much lower. Comparisons between the five drainage basins reveal that the river systems in the middle southern part of the fault zone are mainly controlled by tectonic uplift and thrusting, whereas the river systems in the middle northern part of the fault zone are mostly attributed to right-lateral strike-slip movement.

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Section: Theoretical Framework and Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Under such conditions, the channel longitudinal profile is relatively smooth with a concave-down shape (Zhang et al, 2011;Hu et al, 2010;Whipple, 2004).…”

Section: Theoretical Framework and Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Theoretical Framework and Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Theoretical Framework and Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geomorphic indices of rivers and drainage in China’s Longmen Shan Fault zone and their implications for regional tectonic activity

et al. 2015

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The influence of sandstone caprock material on bedrock channel steepness within a tectonically passive setting: Buffalo National River Basin, Arkansas, USA

Thaler

Covington

2016

JGR Earth Surface

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Bedrock channel profile analysis typically assumes that channels evolve toward a condition of topographic steady state where channel morphology is adjusted to rock erodibility, uplift rates, and stream power. Here we use the integral method of channel profile analysis to quantify channel steepness within a large set of tributary channels that incise through layered rocks in the Buffalo National River Basin in northern Arkansas. Statistical analysis of these channels demonstrates that normalized channel steepness is not a function of local bedrock lithology but is influenced by coarse sediment supply. Specifically, normalized steepness is greatest in reaches of the basin where an interval of Pennsylvanian sandstone forms a caprock on the ridges. Block detachment of the sandstone causes large boulders to be stranded in the upper tributaries where stream power is too low to mobilize or effectively erode the boulders. Within these channels, normalized steepness is correlated with sandstone boulder size and percent boulder coverage rather than local lithology, despite strong contrasts in the mechanical strength of the lithologies incised. This analysis suggests that removal of caprock material is rate limiting within the landscape and may be responsible for the long‐term persistence of topography within this tectonically passive setting.

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Erosion of an active fault scarp leads to drainage capture in the Amazon region, Brazil

Val

Silva

Harbor

et al. 2013

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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Far from the continental margin, drainage basins in Central Amazonia should be in topographic steady state; but they are not. Abandoned remnant fluvial valleys up to hundreds of square kilometers in size are observed throughout Amazonia, and are evidence of significant landscape reorganization. While major Late Miocene drainage shifts occurred due to initiation of the transcontinental Amazon River, local landscape change has remained active until today. Driven either by dynamic topography, tectonism, and/or climatic fluctuations, drainage captures in Amazonia provide a natural experiment for assessing the geomorphic response of low‐slope basins to sudden, capture related base‐level falls. This paper evaluates the timing of geomorphic change by examining a drainage capture event across the Baependi fault scarp involving the Cuieiras and Tarumã‐Mirim River basins northwest of the city of Manaus in Brazil. A system of capture‐related knickpoints was generated by base‐level fall following drainage capture; through numerical modeling of their initiation and propagation, the capture event is inferred to have occurred between the middle and late Pleistocene, consistent with other studies of landscape change in surrounding areas. In low‐slope settings like the Amazon River basin, base‐level fall can increase erosion rates by more than an order of magnitude, and moderate to large river basins can respond to episodes of base‐level fall over timescales of tens to hundreds of thousands of years. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Spatial differences in rock uplift rates inferred from channel steepness indices along the northern flank of the Qilian Mountain, northeast Tibetan Plateau

Cited by 63 publications

References 41 publications

Geomorphic indices of rivers and drainage in China’s Longmen Shan Fault zone and their implications for regional tectonic activity

Geomorphic indices of rivers and drainage in China’s Longmen Shan Fault zone and their implications for regional tectonic activity

The influence of sandstone caprock material on bedrock channel steepness within a tectonically passive setting: Buffalo National River Basin, Arkansas, USA

Erosion of an active fault scarp leads to drainage capture in the Amazon region, Brazil

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