Landscape response to changes in dynamic topography

Mantle convection modelling can be used to understand the temporal evolution of dynamic, or convectively maintained, topography. A promising way of assessing these geodynamic models is by comparison of the predicted erosional response of dynamic topography with observed offshore sedimentary records. However, it is difficult to deconvolve this observed record into contributions from changes in climate, tectonics, and dynamic topography. Here, we use a landscape evolution model capable of producing simulations at the necessary spatial and temporal scales to quantify landscape response to moderate changes in dynamic topography in the presence of flexural isostatic unloading and loading due to erosion and deposition. We demonstrate that moderate changes in dynamic topography can produce an erosional response in the form of increased sediment flux to continental margins. This response can persist long after the influence of dynamic topography and is dependent on the interplay of uplift rate, rock erodibility and initial topography.     

Geomorphic indices and relative tectonic uplift in the Guerrero sector of the Mexican forearc

Tectonically active areas, such as forearc regions, commonly show contrasting relief, differential tectonic uplift, variations in erosion rates, in river incision, and in channel gradient produced by ongoing tectonic deformation. Thus, information on the tectonic activity of a defined area could be derived via landscape analysis. This study uses topography and geomorphic indices to extract signals of ongoing tectonic deformation along the Mexican subduction forearc within the Guerrero sector. For this purpose, we use field data, topographical data, knickpoints, the ratio of volume to area (R_VA), the stream-length gradient index (SL), and the normalized channel steepness index (k_sn).The results of the applied landscape analysis reveal considerable variations in relief, topography and geomorphic indices values along the Guerrero sector of the Mexican subduction zone. We argue that the reported differences are indicative of tectonic deformation and of variations in relative tectonic uplift along the studied forearc. A significant drop from central and eastern parts of the study area towards the west in values of R_VA (from ～500 to ～300), SL (from ～500 to ca. 400), maximum SL (from ～1500–2500 to ～1000) and k_sn (from ～150 to ～100) denotes a decrease in relative tectonic uplift in the same direction. We suggest that applied geomorphic indices values and forearc topography are independent of climate and lithology. Actual mechanisms responsible for the observed variations and inferred changes in relative forearc tectonic uplift call for further studies that explain the physical processes that control the forearc along strike uplift variations and that determine the rates of uplift. The proposed methodology and results obtained through this study could prove useful to scientists who study the geomorphology of forearc regions and active subduction zones.     

Late Neogene Mountain Building of Eastern Kunlun Orogen: Constrained by DEM Analysis

Topography, as a net result of the dynamic interaction between endogenesis and exogenesis, holds immense information on tectonic uplift, surface erosion and thus mountain building. The eastern Kunlun (昆仑) orogen, which experienced significant Late Neogene tectonic uplift and is located in an arid environment, is advantageous for morphotectonlc analysis based on well-preserved tectonic landforms. The digital elevation model (DEM) analysis was carried out for the central segment of the eastern Kunlun orogen based on shuttle radar topography mission (SRTM) data. River longitudinal profile analysis indicates that major rivers across the orogen are characterized by high river gradient indexes and intensive tectonic uplift. Differential uplift was also identified in swath-topography analysis in the studied area, which can be divided into three major tectonic-geomorphic units by orogenicstrike-parallel faults. It is indicated that the most active region is located to the south of the Xidatan (西大滩) fault with significant differential uplift. Another identified fault with differential uplift is the Middle Kuninn fault; however, the timing of which is suggested to be much older than that of the Xidatan fault. These analyses are eoneordantly supported by both field survey and studies of thermochronology, which in turn indicates that the DEM analysis bears great potential in morphotectonic analysis.     

青藏高原东南缘构造地貌、活动构造和下地壳流动假说

利用高精度的SRTM 数字高程模型（DEM）,定量勾画出青藏高原东南缘大尺度地形地貌的特征。分析表明,高原东南缘地貌特征为“负地形”,即海拔高程与地形坡度,与地形起伏度之间均为负相关关系,与高原中部的“正地形”--海拔高程或地形坡度与地形起伏度之间呈正相关关系,形成鲜明对比。但是,在高原东南缘,在河谷之间保留有高海拔、低起伏的残留面。这些残留面与高原内部的平坦面具相似的渐变地貌特征,从腹地的正地形逐渐变为川西的高海拔平坦面与深切河谷相间的负地形。虽然随着河流下切深度往南逐渐增加,残留面虽越来越少,但仍然可以识别,最终终止在雅砻江逆冲断裂带附近,该断裂带以南地区没有明显负地形特征。北东向展布的雅砻江逆冲断裂带对应着50～200 km宽的地形相对陡变带。综合区域新构造和构造地貌研究的最新成果表明： 1）雅砻江逆冲断裂带可能代表着现今正经受侵蚀改造和弱化的高原老边界,该边界以北和以南地区抬升历史不同; 2）三江地区的峰值抬升期已过,目前以侵蚀为主。虽然不能排除与河流侵蚀对应的均衡反弹抬升作用,但具有真正意义的地壳增厚型的构造抬升较弱。国际上流行的高原东缘下地壳流动模式的依据之一是从高原内外流分界线到南中国海,存在一个区域上延伸数千公里的抬升前低海拔“类夷平面”的残留面。地貌特征,构造和地质综合分析都表明高原东缘不存在这样的类夷平面,不支持解释高原东缘地形演化和相应构造变形的下地壳流动模式。     

地表剥蚀、下地壳流变与造山作用研究进展

岩石圈的流变特性研究已经成为固体地球科学研究中的重要领域,是地球科学新理论、新观点的重要渊源。最近的研究表明,下地壳普遍存在的韧性流是造山作用的重要制约因素。在下地壳物质层流变作用机制的调节下,地表剥蚀作用并不仅仅是传统意义上地表夷平的因素,它还能打破地壳动力学和热力学平衡,引起地壳内物质和结构的重置,进而促成山脉的加剧隆升;地表剥蚀作用的强度既受控于造山带的抬升,也受制于地球外圈层(大气圈、水圈、生物圈)。以天山山脉和喜马拉雅山山脉的隆起、喜马拉雅山山脉的变质作用以及相关的构造活动为例,说明在造山过程中,尽管传统意义上的造山作用与地球内部动力过程,即构造作用有密切联系,但是与构造运动的时空尺度不同,地表剥蚀作用也能够在相对较小的时空尺度内,通过影响和控制造山带下地壳的韧性流动,成为地壳抬升和造山带构造演化的重要动力因素。对地壳的流变特性和变质变形研究是当前地球系统科学研究的一个重要切入点。     

东濮凹陷东营组地层剥蚀厚度估算及其意义

判断能否运用声波时差法进行地层剥蚀厚度估算的标准应该是依据抬升剥蚀前地层的压实效应是否被后来的沉积地层所改造;在适当的条件下,声波时差法也可能适用于地层沉积厚度过补偿的情况.综合利用镜质体反射率和声波时差测井资料对东濮凹陷单井的东营组地层剥蚀厚度进行了计算.通过对多口井的东营组残余地层厚度与地层剥蚀厚度之间的关系分析,绘制了东濮凹陷东营组地层剥蚀厚度等值线图.结果表明,构造部位不同,东营组地层剥蚀厚度也不同:从凸起(或边缘隆起)-斜坡-凹陷中心,地层剥蚀厚度顺次减小;洼陷中心及斜坡部位,新近纪以来沉积过补偿厚度较大,沙四上亚段-沙三中亚段烃源岩自新近纪以来发生了二次生烃过程,二次生烃和晚期成藏的油气就近发生聚集,并得以有效地保存,预示着东濮凹陷环洼斜坡深层仍具有较大的油气勘探潜力.     

Effects of transient uplift/erosion on the surface heat flow and heat generation relationship in presence of small scale asthenospheric convection

In this paper the effect of transient uplift/erosion on the relationship between surface heat flow and heat generation for truncated exponential model of radiogenic heat source distribution and basal asthenospheric convection is investigated. Asthenospheric convection is described by a parameterized model, in the form of a nonlinear heat flux boundary condition involving basal temperature and mantle internal temperature. This boundary condition has been linearized and the analytical solution of the problem is obtained by the eigenvalue-eigenfunction expansion method. The analytical solution is used to derive the nature of surface heat flow and heat generation relationship. The results show that the linear relationship is maintained during the uplift/erosion and the estimates of the slope of the linear relationship are different from the depth scale of the exponential model and increase with the rate of uplift/erosion. The estimates of the reduced heat flow also increase with the rate of uplift/erosion. These results would find applications in the interpretation of linear surface heat flow and heat generation relationship which is observed in different tectonic environment.     

An Investigation on Erodibility and Geotechnical Characteristics of Fine Grained Fluvial Soils from Lower Michigan

Scour and erosion potential of a soil are closely related to each other. Similarities or differences between them have not been defined fully and the terms are often used interchangeably or in association with one another. Erodibility is a property of soil that describes erosion potential. Therefore, a proper understanding of erodibility should help predict scour more accurately. In the past, researchers have looked into erosion of soils with the ultimate objective of understanding the erodibility with respect to the standard geotechnical properties. Most research has shown the difficulties associated with correlating erodibility to any one or more soil properties. The research described in this paper is mainly focused on the relationship between erodibility and dry unit weight of soil with varying fractions of fines. Soils tested using laboratory Jet Erosion Test (JET) indicated that the logarithm of erodibility makes a linear inverse relationship with the dry unit weight. In situ JETs confirmed the range of erodibilities established by the laboratory JETs. The best correlations between erodibility and dry unit weight appeared within a single category of soil as classified by the Unified Soil Classification System. In addition, it was also determined that the logarithm of erodibility is inversely related to the angle of internal friction of the fluvial soils tested during this investigation.     

辽河盆地东部地区新老第三纪界面地层剥蚀量研究

辽河盆地新老第三纪地层间断面（N／E）形成于盆地由裂隐发育阶段向坳陷发育阶段转化的过渡时期，界面之下的裂隐沉积地层在早第三纪末期遭受了强烈剥蚀。在运用声波时差资料计算了近40口单井的地层剥蚀量的基础上，分析了地形对地层剥蚀的控制作用，恢复了辽河盆地东部凹陷北就地区N／E间断面地层剥蚀厚度等值线圈。结果显示该区域内N／E间断面地层剥蚀量的横向变化具有北部大、南部小、古河道两侧大、河道所在位置小的特点。     

Cenozoic landscape evolution of the Kruger National Park as derived from cosmogenic nuclide analyses

In contrast to active tectonic settings, little is known about the potential feedback between surface processes and climate change in tectonically inactive cratonic regions. Here, we studied the driving forces of erosion and landscape evolution in the Kruger National Park in South Africa using cosmogenic nuclide dating. ¹⁰Be‐derived catchment‐wide erosion rates (~2 and ~10 mm ka^?1) are similar in magnitude to erosion and rock uplift elsewhere in South Africa, suggesting that (1) rock uplift is solely the isostatic response to erosion and (2) the first‐order topography is likely of Cretaceous age. The topographic maturity is promoted by widespread exposure of rocks resistant to erosion. Our data, however, suggest that local variations in rock resistance lead to transient landscape changes, with local increases in relief and erosion rates.     

High elevation of low‐relief surfaces in mountain belts: does it equate to post‐orogenic surface uplift?

We present experiments of upraising and relaxing topographies showing that peneplanation can occur above the ultimate base level (sea level). After active uplift, the erosion of a topography bounded by a piedmont generates a final smooth and highly elevated topography. Smoothing at high elevation is even possible during active uplift if the evolution of topography is disrupted by the deposition of the products of erosion on its piedmont which is the case at the transition from underfilled to overfilled conditions in foreland basins.     

Tectonics and global change - inferences from Late Cenozoic subsidence and uplift patterns in the Atlantic/ Mediterranean region

Quantitative subsidence analysis for a number of rifted basins in the northern Atlantic/Mediterranean region provides evidence for rapid phases of PlioQuaternary subsidence. The observed acceleration in tectonic subsidence occurs after a phase of general quiescence in subsidence in these basins and deviates from predictions of stretching models. The latter indicate a decay of subsidence with time after Mesozoic-Tertiary basin formatioh and a slow tectonic subsidence in Plio-Quaternary times. A possible explanation for the observed patterns of anomalous subsidence could be an increase in the level of intraplate compression in the northern Atlantic region. Intraplate stress changes in the Plio-Quaternary are related to the dynamics of African/ Eurasian collision processes and a reorganization of spreading directions in the AtlAntic, possibly reflecting a plate reorganization of global nature.
It seems that the Plio-Quaternary record reflects a period of increased levels of neotectonic activity, interplaying with periods of (de)glaciation. Stress-induced topography in the onshore parts of continental margins, coupled with the stress-induced subsidence in the offshore deeper parts of the basins, could have contributed to recent phases of uplift in Fennoscandia, augmenting the uplift induced by glacial unloading. Estimates of ice thicknesses are directly inferred from the observed uplift ignoring other driving mechanisms whereas topography plays a crucial role in the dynamics of glaciation. It is, therefore, important to quantdy the interplay of rapid tectonic uplift and subsidence phases with climatic effects during the Plio-Quaternary.     

Cosmogenic <Superscript>10</Superscript>Be-derived denudation rates of the Eastern and Southern European Alps

Denudation rates from cosmogenic ¹⁰Be measured in quartz from recent river sediment have previously been used in the Central Alps to argue that rock uplift occurs through isostatic response to erosion in the absence of ongoing convergence. We present new basin-averaged denudation rates from large rivers in the Eastern and Southern European Alps together with a detailed topographic analysis in order to infer the forces driving erosion. Denudation rates in the Eastern and Southern Alps of 170–1,400 mm ky⁻¹ are within a similar range to those in the Central Alps for similar lithologies. However, these denudation rates vary considerably with lithology, and their variability generally increases with steeper landscapes, where correlations with topographic metrics also become poorer. Tertiary igneous rocks are associated with steep hillslopes and channels and low denudation rates, whereas pre-Alpine gneisses usually exhibit steep hillslopes and higher denudation rates. Molasse, flysch, and schists display lower mean basin slopes and channel gradients, and, despite their high erodibility, low erosion rates. Exceptionally low denudation rates are also measured in Permian rhyolite, which has high mean basin slopes. We invoke geomorphic inheritance as a major factor controlling erosion, such that large erosive glaciers in the late Quaternary cold periods were more effective in priming landscapes in the Central Alps for erosion than in the interior Eastern Alps. However, the difference in tectonic evolution of the Eastern and Central Alps potentially adds to differences in their geomorphic response; their deep structures differ significantly and, unlike the Central Alps, the Eastern Alps are affected by ongoing tectonic influx due to the slow motion and rotation of Adria. The result is a complex pattern of high mountain erosion in the Eastern Alps, which has evolved from one confined to the narrow belt of the Tauern Window in late Tertiary time to one affecting the entire underthrust basement, orogenic lid, and parts of the Southern Alps today.     

青藏高原东北缘循化－贵德盆地及邻区更新世时期沉积与后期侵蚀样式研究

利用残存的地貌标志恢复原始地貌形态是地貌研究的难点之一。青藏高原东北缘循化－贵德地区晚新生代构造活动强烈,晚新生代黄河在本区发育,其后期演化记录了青藏高原隆升扩展的详细信息,同时黄河侵蚀下切过程本身也是值得深入研究的重要科学问题。由于黄河水系的发育,晚更新世以后循化－贵德盆地地区实现由盆地加积向退积的调整,盆地地区逐渐开始遭受黄河水系的侵蚀下切,并逐渐形成现今青藏高原东北缘的地貌形态。野外地质调查发现更新统的变形程度较弱,由于区域构造隆升与河流强烈下切的共同作用,现今保存的更新统已经成为盆地内部的分水岭,如龙羊峡地区。本研究正是选取循化－贵德盆地及其邻区更新统地层为古地貌重建的标志,基于数字高程模型(DEM)空间分析技术,构建了青藏高原东北缘循化－贵德盆地地区更新世古地貌形态,并进行了初步分析,主要认识有： 1)秦岭北缘断裂带构成其南西向北东方向地形快速降低的边界带; 2)在北西南东方向上,西秦岭、黄河、拉脊山、湟水河以及祁连山等总体上构成了向形－背形相间的地貌格局。同时以古地形为基础,定量计算了盆地区更新世以来的侵蚀分布图像,定量结果表明： 1)剥蚀量的分布形态与高原东北缘盆山地貌系统之间有一定相关耦合性,盆地地区的剥蚀量比较大,而相邻山脉地区的剥蚀量都比较小; 2)剥蚀量比较大的盆地地区剥蚀量与盆地内部河流形态之间也具有明显的关联特征,盆地内部剥蚀量最大的区域往往是盆地内部独立河流的中游地区。     

雅鲁藏布江大峡谷地貌响应时间域的定量计算

基岩河道流域地区的地貌演化定量化研究在构造-气候-表面过程关系的探讨中具有十分重要的意义。定量化的分析主要关注气候、构造等外在因素以及河流内在调节机制对地貌演化的影响。本文总结了关于基岩河道流域地貌分析的定量方法和模型的研究进展,并利用DL模型对雅鲁藏布江中下游河段进行了演算,结果显示该地区在稳定状态下地貌演化时间域在0.065～0.420M a之间,反映了该地区快速的地貌演化过程。     

塔中西北部上泥盆统东河砂岩与志留系砂岩中重砂矿物特征与地质意义

沉积物中重矿物分布受物源区、构造抬升与剥蚀作用、古地貌以及沉积古气候、古环境等多种因素影响,因此沉积重砂矿物的研究可应用于物源区、沉积环境的分析,阐明构造旋回与沉积作用的响应关系。本文通过对塔中地区中1井等6口探井上泥盆统东河砂岩和志留系柯坪塔格组砂岩中重砂矿物分析,提出了塔中东河砂岩重砂矿物主要来自稳定的基底再沉积及花岗岩来源,但受近源的基性火山岩及岩浆期后热液作用影响较大;志留系下砂岩重砂矿物主要来自下覆碳酸盐岩、花岗岩和搬运再沉积物,总体形成于稳定的、多物源的构造-沉积环境,物源方向可能是东南至西北方向。     

Expression of active tectonics in erosional landscapes

Understanding the manner and degree to which topography in active mountain ranges reflects deformation of the Earth's surface remains a first order goal of tectonic geomorphology. A substantial body of research in the past decade demonstrates that incising channel systems play a central role in setting relationships among topographic relief, differential rock uplift rate, and climatically modulated erosional efficiency. This review provides an introduction to the analysis and interpretation of channel profiles in erosional mountain ranges. We show that existing data support theoretical expectations of positive, monotonic relationships between channel steepness index, a measure of channel gradient normalized for downstream increases in drainage area, and erosion rate at equilibrium, and that the transient response to perturbations away from equilibrium engenders specific spatial patterns in channel profiles that can be used to infer aspects of the forcing. These aspects of channel behavior lay the foundation for a series of case studies that we use to illustrate how focused, quantitative analysis of channel morphology can provide insight into the spatial and temporal dynamics of active deformation. Although the complexities of river response to climate, lithology, and uplift patterns mean that multiple interpretations of topographic data alone will always possible, we show that application of stream profile analysis can be a powerful reconnaissance tool with which to interrogate the rates and patterns of deformation in active mountain belts.     

青藏高原上新世构造岩相古地理

在前人研究成果的基础上,划分出青藏高原及邻区上新世残留盆地共95个,探讨了青藏高原及邻区上新世构造岩相古地理演化。青藏高原上新世总体构造地貌格局主要受控于印度板块与欧亚板块沿雅鲁藏布江缝合带的碰撞及持续挤压,影响着青藏高原广大范围内的构造抬升。东北部昆仑山、祁连山地区是两大构造隆起蚀源区,两大山系夹持的柴达木盆地是高原东北部最大的陆内盆地,祁连山以北和以东地区则以盆山相间的格局接受周围山系的剥蚀物质,直到晚上新世(青藏运动"A"幕)高原东北部进一步强烈隆升,山间盆地抬升成为剥蚀区。新疆塔里木和青藏高原东部羌塘、可可西里地区主体表现为大面积的构造压陷湖盆-冲泛平原沉积区。高原东南部为一系列走滑拉分断裂运动形成的拉分盆地,上新世早期堆积洪冲积相砾岩,中期为湖泊、三角洲沉积,晚期随着山体的进一步抬升,盆地又接受冲洪积扇相砾岩堆积,并被河流侵蚀剥露。高原南部上新世多分布一些近南北向盆地,是响应高原隆升到一定程度垮塌而成的断陷盆地,同东南部拉分盆地类似,上新世沉积相也由早至晚分为3个阶段。恒河地区上新世由于喜马拉雅山的快速抬升,沉积以粗碎屑为主,形成狭长的西瓦利克群堆积。上新世青藏高原总体地势继承了中新世西高东低、南高北低的地貌特征,但地势高差明显较中新世增大。     

Assessing spatial uncertainty in mapping soil erodibility factor using geostatistical stochastic simulation

Soil erosion is one of most widespread process of degradation. The erodibility of a soil is a measure of its susceptibility to erosion and depends on many soil properties. Soil erodibility factor varies greatly over space and is commonly estimated using the revised universal soil loss equation. Neglecting information about estimation uncertainty may lead to improper decision-making. One geostatistical approach to spatial analysis is sequential Gaussian simulation, which draws alternative, equally probable, joint realizations of a regionalised variable. Differences between the realizations provide a measure of spatial uncertainty and allow us to carry out an error analysis. The objective of this paper was to assess the model output error of soil erodibility resulting from the uncertainties in the input attributes (texture and organic matter). The study area covers about 30 km² (Calabria, southern Italy). Topsoil samples were collected at 175 locations within the study area in 2006 and the main chemical and physical soil properties were determined. As soil textural size fractions are compositional data, the additive-logratio (alr) transformation was used to remove the non-negativity and constant-sum constraints on compositional variables. A Monte Carlo analysis was performed, which consisted of drawing a large number (500) of identically distributed input attributes from the multivariable joint probability distribution function. We incorporated spatial cross-correlation information through joint sequential Gaussian simulation, because model inputs were spatially correlated. The erodibility model was then estimated for each set of the 500 joint realisations of the input variables and the ensemble of the model outputs was used to infer the erodibility probability distribution function. This approach has also allowed for delineating the areas characterised by greater uncertainty and then to suggest efficient supplementary sampling strategies for further improving the precision of K value predictions.     

四川含油气叠合盆地基本特征

随着近年来四川盆地油气勘探的不断突破,重新审视其基本地质特征和油气成藏特点变得迫切而必要.四川盆地是典型的叠合盆地,显生宙以来经历了震旦纪一中三叠世伸展体制下的差异升降和被动大陆边缘(海相碳酸盐岩台地)、晚三叠世-始新世挤压体制下的摺皱冲断和复合前陆盆地(陆相碎屑岩盆地)、渐新世以来的褶皱隆升改造(构造盆地)3大演化阶...