Abstract
The topography of tectonically active mountain ranges reflects a poorly understood competition between bedrock uplift and erosion. Dating of abandoned river-cut surfaces in the northwestern Himalayas reveals that the Indus river incises through the bedrock at extremely high rates (2-12 mm yr-1). In the surrounding mountains, the average angles of hillslopes are steep and essentially independent of erosion rate, suggesting control by a common threshold process. In this rapidly deforming region, an equilibrium is maintained between bedrock uplift and river incision, with landsliding allowing hillslopes to adjust efficiently to rapid river down-cutting.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 505-510 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Nature |
Volume | 379 |
Issue number | 6565 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 8 1996 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General