Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Tectonics
What is the Relation Between Climate
and Erosion Rate?
Between Erosion Rate and Tectonics?
Is there a Demonstrable Coupling (with
feedback loops) Between Climate and
Tectonics?
How Strong are the Feedbacks?
How Variable Among Mountain Belts?
Over what Time and Space Scales does
this Coupling Operate?
A ~6-fold Increase!
Definitions
Uplift rate (of surface or rock) is the
vertical component of motion measured
relative to a fixed datum (geoid) at the
Earths Surface (positive up) *
Erosion rate is positive down
Surface uplift rate is the difference
between rock uplift rate and erosion rate
*I Rock
discuss
uplift
onlyrate
regionally
typically
averaged
varies with
quantities
depth
Us U E
Fa
At all times!
R
Fa
W
Reminder: Only Discuss Average Rock Uplift Rate
(relative to geoid) measured at the Surface -not internal deformation field
S = ksA-
schematic ridge
profile
Rhc
W
0
0
xc
10
15
20
25
U nc
FA
Constant!
E CW
tan
dR
U nc CR
dt
Known Analytical Solution
R t R f Ri R f e
Ct
E t CR t
T1 e
At all times!
R
Fa
W
By definition
R
Fa
[c/(m - c)] R/2 ~ 5R/2
W
Unc = Rock Uplift Rate in Absence of Isostatic
Compensation = Fa/W (as before)
(over thrusting assumption)
c
U nc E
m
Isostatic
compensation
m c
c
U
E
m
m
U nc
Rate of crustal
Thickening (over thrust)
For E = 0 Case:
m c
U
m
U iso 0
U nc
U U nc
U nc
R t R f Ri R f e
m c
m
U nc CR
T1 e
c
U t U nc
C f R f Ri e
m
m c
1 C
m
m c
m
Response times in
both Growth and
Decay increase by
a factor of ~6
Isostasy Gives:
During Decay the
effect of Erosion is
to Induce Rebound
Isostasy Sucks:
Response
Transient
to Climate:
RockNon-zero
Uplift is tightly
difference
Coupled
between
to Erosion,
erosionbut
andthere
rock is
uplift
reduces
norelief
Coupling
(surface
between
uplift)
Erosion
which
and
induces
Tectonics
isostatic
(passive
rockisostatic
uplift (~5/6)
only)
Numerical Simulations:
Strong Climate-Tectonics Coupling
Orogenic WedgeTheory:
Strong Climate-Tectonics Coupling
S = ksA-
S = ksA-
colluvial
reach
ks
S = ksA-
ks
S = ksA-
colluvial
reach
ks
Dry Retro-Wedge
Uniform Precipitation
Wet Retro-Wedge
Implications
Conclusions Part II
Response Time Set by Final Erosional Efficiency,
Insensitive to Orographic Rainfall Evolution
Strain Partitioning in Wedge Strongly Sensitive to
Evolving Rainshadow
A Deepening Rainshadow Can Cause a Runaway
Condition
2-Sided Wedge is Far More Stable than a 1-Sided
Wedge. Retro-wind Case Unconditionally Stable.
Pro-wind Case only Unstable for High % Recycling