Bedrock incision, rock uplift and threshold hillslopes in the northwestern Himalayas

Douglas W. Burbank; John Leland; Eric Fielding; Robert S. Anderson; Nicholas Brozovic; Mary R. Reid; Christopher Duncan

doi:10.1038/379505a0

Bedrock incision, rock uplift and threshold hillslopes in the northwestern Himalayas

Douglas W. Burbank, John Leland, Eric Fielding, Robert S. Anderson, Nicholas Brozovic, Mary R. Reid, Christopher Duncan

Earth and Sustainability

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1072 Scopus citations

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)
Pages (from-to)	505-510
Number of pages	6
Journal	Nature
Volume	379
Issue number	6565
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/379505a0
State	Published - Feb 8 1996

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title = "Bedrock incision, rock uplift and threshold hillslopes in the northwestern Himalayas",

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.",

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AU - Burbank, Douglas W.

AU - Leland, John

AU - Fielding, Eric

AU - Anderson, Robert S.

AU - Brozovic, Nicholas

AU - Reid, Mary R.

AU - Duncan, Christopher

PY - 1996/2/8

Y1 - 1996/2/8

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

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DO - 10.1038/379505a0

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SN - 0028-0836

VL - 379

SP - 505

EP - 510

JO - Nature

JF - Nature

IS - 6565

ER -

Bedrock incision, rock uplift and threshold hillslopes in the northwestern Himalayas

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