Inherited Landforms and Glacial Impact of Different Palaeosurfaces in Southwest Sweden

Landforms are used as analytical tools to separate inherited features from the glacial impact on Precambrian basement rocks in southwest Sweden. The study covers three different palaeosurfaces, the sub-Cambrian peneplain (relative relief (r.r.) 0–20 m) with the character of a pediplain, an uplifted and dissected part of the sub-Cambrian peneplain (r.r. 5–40 m) and an etch-surface (r.r. 20–135 m), presumably sub-Mesozoic. The surfaces were recently re-exposed, probably due to a Neogene upheaval with some pre-glacial reshaping. Strong structural control and no alignment with glacial erosional directions other than those coinciding with structures, are arguments for etch processes as a most important agent for relief differentiation. This is strengthened by the occurrence of saprolite residues and etchforms in protected positions.
The glacial reshaping of the sub-Cambrian flat bedrock surfaces is negligible. The glacial impact becomes more evident in the uplifted and dissected parts of the peneplain and within the hilly sub-Mesozoic surface. The higher the initial relief the more effect of glacial erosion on individual hills, both on the abrading side, with formation of roches moutonnées, and on the plucking side. Detailed etchforms are preserved in protected positions in spite of erosion by a clearly wet-based ice. The magnitude of the Pleistocene glacial erosion is considerably less than the amplitude of the palaeorelief in the entire area.
Landscapes of areal glacial scouring have been described as comprising irregular depressions with intervening bosses scraped by ice and labelled 'knock and lochan' topography, but we suggest that an etched bedrock surface is a prerequisite for this type of landscape to develop.     

Rumpftreppen in Southernmost Norway

In several publications Evers (see especially 1941) described ‘Piedmont’ or ‘Rumpftreppen’ in Norway. He claimed to have found the Treppen in many parts of the country at surprisingly regular height intervals: at 200 m, 400 m, 600 m, 800 m, 1000 m, and 1200 m above sea level, at sea level and 200 m below sea level. Evers recognized ‘Rumpftreppen’ north of Kristiansand in the southernmost part of Norway at 200 m, 600 m, 800 m, 1000 m, and 1200 m elevation (Evers 1941, p. 38). This part of Norway is underlain by crystalline Precambrian rocks. Rolling hills with a low relief between more deeply incised north-south-trending main valleys characterize the landscape. The hills are flat-topped or slightly rounded. A smooth surface, which passes through the highest hill-tops, rises gradually from the coast to the high mountain plateau of central southern Norway (Fig. 1). The surface is also shown by profiles at right angles to the coast line (Fig. 2). Towards the northwest this ‘summit surface’ passes into the mountain plateau which follows the sub-Cambrian ‘peneplain’ in Ryfylke (Andersen 1954). Andersen (1960) therefore suggested that the ‘summit surface’ in southernmost Norway was probably the tilted sub-Cambrian ‘peneplain’ slightly lowered by erosion. The only extensive distinct younger erosion surface (shelf) that could be clearly recognized lies on the coast approximately at sea level (Fig. 3).     

Pre‐Glacial Landform Inheritance in a Glaciated Shield Landscape

We seek to quantify glacial erosion in a low relief shield landscape in northern Sweden. We use GIS analyses of digital elevation models and field mapping of glacial erosion indicators to explore the geomorphology of three granite areas with the same sets of landforms and of similar relative relief, but with different degrees of glacial streamlining. Area 1, the Parkajoki district, shows no streamlining and so is a type area for negligible glacial erosion. Parkajoki retains many delicate pre‐glacial features, including tors and saprolites with exposure histories of over 1 Myr. Area 2 shows the onset of significant glacial erosion, with the development of glacially streamlined bedrock hills. Area 3 shows extensive glacial streamlining and the development of hill forms such as large crag and tails and roches moutonnées. Preservation of old landforms is almost complete in Area 1, due to repeated covers of cold‐based, non‐erosive ice. In Area 2, streamlined hills appear but sheet joint patterns indicate that the lateral erosion of granite domes needed to form flanking cliffs and to give a streamlined appearance is only of the order of a few tens of metres. The inheritance of large‐scale, pre‐glacial landforms, notably structurally controlled bedrock hills and low relief palaeosurfaces, remains evident even in Area 3, the zone of maximum glacial erosion. Glacial erosion here has been concentrated in valleys, leading to the dissection and loss of area of palaeosurfaces. Semi‐quantitative estimates of glacial erosion on inselbergs and palaeosurfaces and in valleys provide mean totals for glacial erosion of 8 ± 8 m in Area 1 and 27 ± 11 m in Area 3. These estimates support previous views that glacial erosion depths and rates on shields can be low and that pre‐glacial landforms can survive long periods of glaciation, including episodes of wet‐based flow.     

Fjord Land and Coast Land of Western Norway

THE VALLEY through which the Bergen-Oslo railway runs is cut into the northern part of Hardangervidda. This high plateau has a moderately rolling relief, 1100—1400 m above sea level. A remarkable feature is its regenerated sub-Cambrian peneplane, which carries a partially preserved cover of soft phyllites ( = slightly metamorphic mica schists). In parts these are again overlain by plutonic Caledonian rocks which were brought into this position by overthrusting from the northwest.     

Cenozoic uplift of Nuussuaq and Disko, West Greenland—elevated erosion surfaces as uplift markers of a passive margin

Remnants of a high plateau have been identified on Nuussuaq and Disko, central West Greenland. We interpret the plateau as an erosion surface (the summit erosion surface) formed mainly by a fluvial system and graded close to its former base level and subsequently uplifted to its present elevation. It extends over 150 km east–west, being of low relative relief, broken along faults, tilted westwards in the west and eastwards in the east, and having a maximum elevation of ca. 2 km in central Nuussuaq and Disko. The summit erosion surface cuts across Precambrian basement rocks and Paleocene–Eocene lavas, constraining its age to being substantially younger than the last rift event in the Nuussuaq Basin, which took place during the late Maastrichtian and Danian. The geological record shows that the Nuussuaq Basin was subjected to subsidence of several kilometres during Paleocene–Eocene volcanism and was transgressed by the sea later during the Eocene. By comparing with results from apatite fission track analysis and vitrinite reflectance maturity data, it is suggested that formation of the erosion surface was probably triggered by an uplift and erosion event starting between 40 and 30 Ma. Surface formation was completed prior to an uplift event that started between 11 and 10 Ma and caused valley incision. This generation of valleys graded to the new base level and formed a lower erosion surface, at most 1 km below the summit erosion surface, thus indicating the magnitude of its uplift. Formation of this generation of valleys was interrupted by a third uplift event also with a magnitude of 1 km that lifted the landscape to near its present position. Correlation with the fission-track record suggests that this uplift event started between 7 and 2 Ma. Uplift must have been caused initially by tectonism. Isostatic compensation due to erosion and loading and unloading of ice sheets has added to the magnitude of uplift but have not significantly altered the configuration of the surface. It is concluded that the elevations of palaeosurfaces (surfaces not in accordance with present climate or tectonic conditions) on West Greenland's passive margin can be used to define the magnitude and lateral variations of Neogene uplift events. The striking similarity between the landforms in West Greenland and those on many other passive margins is also noted.     

Steady, balanced rates of uplift and erosion of the Santa Monica Mountains, California

Topographic change in regions of active deformation is a function of rates of uplift and denudation. The rate of topographic development and change of an actively uplifting mountain range, the Santa Monica Mountains, southern California, was assessed using landscape attributes of the present topography, uplift rates and denudation rates. Landscape features were characterized through analysis of a digital elevation model (DEM). Uplift rates at time scales ranging from 10⁴ to 10⁶ years were constrained with geological cross-sections and published estimates. Denudation rate was determined from sediment yield data from debris basins in southern California and from the relief of rivers set into geomorphic surfaces of known age. First-order morphology of the Santa Monica Mountains is set by large-scale along-strike variations in structural geometry. Drainage spacing, drainage geometry and to a lesser extent relief are controlled by bedrock strength. Dissection of the range flanks and position of the principal drainage divide are modulated by structural asymmetry and differences in structural relief across the range. Topographic and catchment-scale relief are ≈300–900 m. Mean denudation rate derived from the sediment yield data and river incision is 0.5±0.3 mm yr^?1. Uplift rate across the south flank of the range is ≈0.5±0.4 mm yr^?1 and across the north flank is 0.24±0.12 mm yr^?1. At least 1.6–2.7 Myr is required to create either the present topographic or the catchment-scale relief based on either the mean rates of denudation or uplift. Although the landscape has had sufficient time to achieve a steady-state form, comparison of the time-scale of uplift and denudation rate variation with probable landscape response times implies the present topography does not represent the steady-state form.     

Climatic and tectonic controls on the fluvial morphology of the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau (China)

The geomorphological evolution of the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau (NETP) could provide valuable information for reconstructing the tectonic movements of the region. And the considerable uplift and climatic changes at here, provide an opportunity for studying the impact of tectonic and monsoon climate on fluvial morphological development and sedimentary architecture of fluvial deposits. The development of peneplain-like surface and related landscape transition from basin filling to incision indicate an intense uplift event with morphological significance at around 10–17 Ma in the NETP. After that, incision into the peneplain was not continuous but a staircase of terraces, developed as a result of climatic influences. In spite of the generally persisting uplift of the whole region, the neighbouring tectonic blocks had different uplift rates, leading to a complicated fluvial response with accumulation terraces alternating with erosion terraces at a small spatial and temporal scale. The change in fluvial activity as a response to climatic impact is reflected in the general sedimentary sequence on the terraces from high-energy (braided) channel deposits (at full glacial) to lower-energy deposits of small channels (towards the end of the glacial), mostly separated by a rather sharp boundary from overlying flood-loams (at the glacial-interglacial transition) and overall soil formation (interglacial). Pronounced incision took place at the subsequent warm-cold transitions. In addition, it is hypothesized that in some strongly uplifted blocks energy thresholds could be crossed to allow terrace formation as a response to small climatic fluctuations (10³–10⁴ year timescale). Although studies of morpho-tectonic and geomorphological evolution of the NETP, improve understanding on the impacts of tectonic motions and monsoonal climate on fluvial processes, a number of aspects, such as the distribution and correlation of peneplain and the related morphological features, the extent and intensity of tectonic movements influencing the crossing of climatic thresholds, leading to terrace development, need to be studied further.     

关于夷平面的科学问题——兼论青藏高原夷平面

长期地貌演化研究表明,夷平面的形成有4种基本方式：准平原、山麓剥蚀平原、双层水平面和冻融剥夷平原。它们的形成都需要上千万年至数亿年的构造相对稳定时期。青藏高原上的层状地貌面可以划分为两级夷平面和一级剥蚀面。山顶面形成于渐新世至中新世早期;主夷平面是以双层水平面或山麓剥蚀平原形式发育的,大致形成于20-3.6Ma B.P.期间,完成时的高度低于1000m;剥蚀面形成于3.6-1.7MaB.P.期间。     

新疆天山夷平面形态特征浅析

天山广泛发育着三级夷平面,削平了古、中生代多期构造形态及褶皱岩层。天山夷平面是在古华力西褶皱山脉的基础上,在地壳相对稳定的条件下,经中生代,早第三纪的剥蚀夷平,于晚第三纪末至第四纪初新构造运动作用下,被抬升到不同高度,而后受第四纪以来新构造运动的不断作用及天山独特气候条件的影响,使夷平面在垂直方向或水平方向都存在着明显差异,表面发生了一系列变形。     

三江源地区冰雹灾害分布特征及其成因

青藏高原腹地的雹灾形成与其它地区有一定的差别。根据三江源地区126个乡整理的近60 a的雹灾数据,分析了青海南部高原雹灾的空间和时间变化规律,并通过对雹灾次数与海拔高程、地形起伏度、居民点密度的相关分析,结果表明：三江源地区雹灾的高发区域为东北部的兴海、同德、贵南等地及南部的称多、玉树、囊谦等2个地区,雹灾主要发生在5～9月份,在6、8月份形成明显的双峰性特点,地形起伏度、居民点密度与雹灾频次具有明显的正相关,海拔高程与雹灾频次呈负相关,雨带推移和生产方式不同是三江源地区雹灾产生空间分异的主要原因。     

Uplift, exhumation and precipitation: tectonic and climatic control of Late Cenozoic landscape evolution in the northern Sierras Pampeanas, Argentina

Deciphering the evolution of mountain belts requires information on the temporal history of both topographic growth and erosion. The exhumation rate of a mountain range undergoing shortening is related to the erodability of the uplifting range as well as the efficiency of erosion, which partly depends on the available precipitation. Young, rapidly deposited sediments have low thermal conductivity and are readily eroded, in contrast to underlying resistant basement rocks that have a higher thermal conductivity. Apatite fission‐track thermochronology can quantify cooling; thermal models constrain the relationship between this cooling and exhumation. By utilizing geological relations for a datum, we can examine the evolution of rock uplift, surface uplift and exhumation. In the northern Sierras Pampeanas of Argentina, a young sedimentary basin that overlay resistant crystalline basement prior to rapid exhumation provides an ideal setting to examine the effect of contrasting thermal and erosional regimes. There, tectonically active reverse‐fault‐bounded blocks partly preserve a basement peneplain at elevations in excess of 4500 m. Prior to exhumation, the two study areas were covered by 1000 and 1600 m of recently deposited sediments; this sequence begins with shallow marine deposits immediately overlying the regional erosion surface. Apatite fission‐track data were obtained from vertical transects in the Calchaquíes and Aconquija ranges. At Cumbres Calchaquíes, erosion leading to the development of the peneplain commenced in the Cretaceous, probably as a result of rift‐shoulder uplift. In contrast, Sierra Aconquija cooled rapidly between 5.5 and 4.5 Myr. At the onset of this rapid exhumation, the sediment was quickly removed, causing fast cooling, but relatively slow rates of surface uplift. Syntectonic conglomerates were produced when faulting exposed resistant bedrock; this change in rock erodability led to enhanced surface uplift rates, but decreased exhumation rates. The creation of an orographic barrier after the range had attained sufficient elevation further decreased exhumation rates and increased surface uplift rates. Differences in the magnitude of exhumation at the two transects are related to both differences in the thickness of the sedimentary basin prior to exhumation and differences in the effective precipitation due to an orographic barrier in the foreland and hence differences in the magnitude of headward erosion.     

Numerical modelling of landscape evolution on geological time-scales: a parameter analysis and comparison with the south-eastern highlands of Australia

Surface-process models (SPMs) have the potential to become an important tool in predicting sediment flux to basins, but currently suffer from a lack of quantitative understanding of their controlling parameters, as well as difficulties in identifying landscape properties that can be used to test model predictions. We attempt to constrain the parameter values that enter a SPM by comparing predictions of landscape form (as expressed by hypsometric and fractal measures) and process rates obtained for different parameter sets with observations from the south-eastern Australian highlands, a rifted margin mountain belt that has remained tectonically stable during Cenozoic times. We map the hypsometry and fractal characteristics of south-eastern Australia and find that the roughness amplitude (G) correlates well with local relief, whereas the hypsometric integral (H ) correlates slightly better with elevation than with relief. The fractal dimension (D) does not correlate with any other morphometric measure and varies randomly throughout the region. Variograms generally show three kinds of scaling behaviour of topography with increasing wavelength, with topography only being truly self-affine at wavelengths between ～1 and 10 km. From a review of the available data on long-term denudation rates in south-eastern Australia, we infer that these have been 1–10 m Myr^?1, and average escarpment retreat rates 0.2–1.0 km Myr^?1, throughout the Cenozoic. Model predictions, using a SPM that includes hillslope diffusion and long-range fluvial transport, suggest that landscape form evolves with time; after an initial phase where D, G and relief increase, all morphometric measures decrease with increasing denudation. The behaviour of GandH in the models is qualitatively compatible with the observations; D, however, varies predictably in the models, in contrast with its random behaviour in the real world. The observed present-day morphology of SE Australia does not impose quantitative constraints on parameter values. The fractal analyses do impose general conditions of relative parameter values that have to be met in order to create ‘realistic’ topographies. They also suggest that there is no theoretical basis for including hillslope diffusion in SPMs with a spatial resolution coarser than 1 km. A comparison of the observed denudation and retreat rates with model predictions places order-of-magnitude constraints on parameter values. Thus, data pertaining to landscape evolution are much more valuable than static present-day topography data for calibrating SPMs.     

Lake and catchment response to Holocene environmental change: spatial variability along a climate gradient in southwest Greenland

The Kangerlussuaq area of southwest Greenland is a lake-rich landscape that covers a climate gradient: a more maritime, cooler and wetter coastal zone contrasts with a dry, continental interior. Radiocarbon-dated sediment sequences (covering ~11,200?C8,300?cal?year) from paired lakes at the coast and the head of the fjord were analysed for lithostratigraphic variables (organic-matter content, bulk density, Ti, Ca). Minerogenic and carbon accumulation rates from the four lakes were compared to determine catchment and lake response to Holocene climatic variability. Catchment erosion at the coast was dominated by cryonival processes, with considerable sediment production due to the limited vegetation cover and exposed rock faces. Input of minerogenic sediment at one site (AT4) was high (>1?gDW?cm^?2?year^?1) during the period 5,800?C4,000?cal?year BP, perhaps reflecting intensification of cryogenic processes on northeast-facing slopes and rapid delivery to the lake. This period of erosional activity was not observed at the nearby, higher elevation site (AT1) due to the lower catchment relief; instead, there was an abrupt decline in carbon and minerogenic accumulation rates at ~5,800?cal?year BP. Sediment accumulation rates at the inland sites were much lower (<0.005?gDW?cm^?2?year^?1) reflecting greater catchment stability (more extensive vegetation cover), lower relief and substantially lower precipitation, but synchronous increases in mineral accumulation rates from ~1,200 to 1,000?cal?year BP may reflect wind erosion associated with regional cooling and local aridity. Carbon-accumulation-rate profiles were similar at the two inland sites, with higher-than-average accumulation (~6?C8?g?C?m^?2?year^?1) during the early Holocene and a subsequent decline after ~6,000?cal?year BP. At the inland lakes, both mineral and carbon accumulation rates exhibited a stronger link to climate, driven by trends in effective precipitation and regional aeolian activity. Catchment differences (relief, altitude) lead to more individualistic records in both erosion history and lake productivity at the coast.     

Regional relief characteristics and denudation pattern of the western Southern Alps, New Zealand

The Southern Alps of New Zealand are the topographic expression of active oblique continental convergence of the Australian and Pacific plates. Despite inferred high rates of tectonic and climatic forcing, the pattern of differential uplift and erosion remains uncertain. We use a 25-m DEM to conduct a regional-scale relief analysis of a 250-km long strip of the western Southern Alps (WSA). We present a preliminary map of regional erosion and denudation by overlaying mean basin relief, a modelled stream-power erosion index, river incision rates, historic landslide denudation rates, and landslide density. The interplay between strong tectonic and climatic forcing has led to relief production that locally attains 2 km in major catchments, with mean values of 0.65–0.68 km. Interpolation between elevations of major catchment divides indicates potential removal of l0¹–10³ km³, or a mean basin relief of 0.51–0.85 km in the larger catchments. Local relief and inferred river incision rates into bedrock are highest about 50–67% of the distance between the Alpine fault and the main divide. The mean regional relief variability is ± 0.5 km.Local relief, valley cross-sectional area, and catchment width correlate moderately with catchment area, and also reach maximum values between the range front and the divide. Hypsometric integrals show scale dependence, and together with hypsometric curves, are insufficient to clearly differentiate between glacial and fluvial dominated basins. Mean slope angle in the WSA (ψ = 30°) is lower where major longitudinal valleys and extensive ice cover occur, and may be an insensitive measure of regional relief. Modal slope angle is strikingly uniform throughout the WSA (φ = 38–40°), and may record adjustment to runoff and landsliding. Both ψ and φ show non-linear relationships with elevation, which we attribute to dominant geomorphic process domains, such as fluvial processes in low-altitude valley trains, surface runoff and frequent landsliding on montane hillslopes, “relief dampening” by glaciers, and rock fall/avalanching on steep main-divide slopes.     

甘肃期准平原结束时代的古地磁年龄

本文根据兰州烟洞沟剖面的磁性地层学研究指出,甘肃期准平原面结束时代应不晚于１．７ＭａＢ．Ｐ．,代表了兰州盆地在地质演经过程中一个非常重要的侵蚀期。     

青藏高原地形起伏度及其地理意义

地形起伏度是区域人居环境适宜性与资源环境承载力的关键评价指标之一。当前有关其最佳评价窗口、及其与海拔—相对高差的相互关系仍缺乏深入研究,进而影响该指标对区域地形起伏的有效表征。客观认识青藏高原地形起伏度有助于促进其国家生态安全屏障建设与区域绿色发展。以先进星载热发射和反射辐射仪全球数字高程模型（ASTER GDEM, 30 m）地形数据（V2）为基础,本文利用均值变点分析法确定了青藏高原地形起伏度评价的最佳分析窗口,基于地形起伏度模型（RDLS）研制了青藏高原首套30 m地形起伏度专题图,据此分析了地形起伏度与海拔、相对高差的相互关系,并界定了地形起伏度对区域地形起伏状况的有效表征。主要结果/结论包括：① 基于GDEM的青藏高原地形起伏度评价最佳窗口为41×41个像元的矩形邻域,对应面积约为1.51 km²,均值变点分析表明区域地形起伏度评价最佳窗口有其唯一性。② 青藏高原地形起伏度均值约为5.06,超3/5区域地形起伏度介于4.5~5.7之间;整体上,青藏高原地形起伏程度由其东北部向西南部、西部递增,仅在柴达木盆地、藏南谷地以及河湟谷地出现低起伏地貌特征。且地表起伏在不同纬度剖面变化较为一致（沿山脉走向）,但不同经度剖面起伏层次错落（横切山脉走向）。③ 相关性分析表明不同地形起伏度分别对应不同平均海拔、不同相对高差的地貌单元。青藏高原地形起伏度经纬向剖面分析表明,该区由东部的低山稳步爬升,山体经历骤然爬升（即地表起伏特征剧烈）后形成以极高山为主的有序错落起伏（喜马拉雅山脉）。     

Topographical relief characteristics and its impact on population and economy: A case study of the mountainous area in western Henan,China

Topographical relief is a key factor that limits population distribution and economic development in mountainous areas. The limitation is especially apparent in the mountain-plain transition zone. Taking the transition zone between the Qinling Mountains and the North China Plain (i.e. the mountainous area in western Henan Province) as an example and based on the 200-m resolution DEM data, we used the mean change-point analysis to determine the optimal statistical unit for topographical relief, and thereafter extracted the relief degree. Taking the 1:100,000 land use data, township population and county-level industrial data, population and economic spatial models were constructed, and 200-m resolution grid population and economic density maps were generated. Afterwards, statistical analysis was carried out to quantitatively reveal the impact of topographical relief on population and economy. In addition, the impacts of other topographical factors were discussed. The results showed the following. (1) The relief degree in western Henan is generally low, where 58.6% of the regional topography does not exceed half the height of a reference mountain (relative elevation ≤250 m). Spatially, the relief degree is high in the west while low in the east, and high in the middle while low in the north and south. There is a positive correlation between relief degree and elevation, and a much stronger correlation between relief degree and slope. (2) The linear fitting degree between the population and economic validation data and the corresponding simulation data are 0.943 and 0.909, respectively, indicating that the spatialized results can reflect the actual population and economic distribution. (3) The impact of topographical relief on population and economy was stronger than that of other topographical factors. The relief degree showed a good logarithmic fit relationship with population density (0.911) and economic density (0.874). Specifically, 88.65% of the population lives in areas where the topographical relief is ≤0.5 and 88.03% of the gross regional product was from areas where the relief is ≤0.3. Compared with the population distribution, the economic development showed an obvious agglomeration trend towards low relief areas.     

Estimating palaeorelief from detrital mineral age ranges

We propose a method that uses the increase in mineral age with elevation in some bedrock landscapes to quantify palaeotopographic relief from the age range of detrital minerals in coeval sediment. We use the rate at which mineral age changes with elevation (its age-gradient, d t /d z ) and its age range (Δ t ) in the sediment to invert for relief: Δ z =Δ t /(d t /d z ). Relief inversion requires a single-grain dating precision high enough that detrital grains originate from resolvably different elevations (e.g. laser microprobe ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar fusion). The technique assumes that there is no change in mineral age during erosion and transport, that sediment is mixed well enough and (or) sampled sufficiently to capture the extrema of mineral ages, and that isochrons were horizontal during erosion. Subject to these constraints, inversion of the age range of individual grains in synorogenic sedimentary sequences allows quantitative estimation of relief development for eroded mountain ranges. This method provides the only direct quantitative measure of palaeorelief, a poorly constrained, but important aspect of many geological, geomorphological and geodynamic models.     

Wyoming big sagebrush screens ultraviolet radiation more effectively at higher elevations

The flux of biologically-effective ultraviolet radiation (UV) is diminished by atmospheric absorption which may cause physiological and morphological phenotypic differences among plant populations at different elevations. We examined UV-screening effectiveness of leaves of Artemisia tridentata ssp wyomingensis (Wyoming big sagebrush) along an 800-m elevation gradient in North-central Wyoming with a pulse-amplitude modulated fluorometer. Adaxial epidermal transmittance of UV increased at lower elevations; means ranged from 2.3% (high elevation) to 10.2% (low elevation). To provide a proximate explanation for this relationship, we collected leaves across the gradient and estimated concentrations of bulk-soluble UV-absorbing compounds (λ = 300 and 365 nm) and the density of trichomes on the adaxial surface. Concentrations of UV-absorbing compounds decreased with elevation and ranged from 0.64–2.25 A₃₀₀ cm⁻² and 0.43–1.35 A₃₆₅ cm⁻². Trichome density increased from 14,400 cm⁻² at low elevation to 22,500 cm⁻² at high elevation. Because the distance along the elevation gradient was only 18 km, gene flow likely prevents ecotypic differentiation; the ultimate cause of the ecocline in screening effectiveness is likely the evolution of environmentally-induced phenotypic plasticity in both biochemical and anatomical properties of leaves in response to variation in UV irradiance.