Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 225-229 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Nature |
| Volume | 582 |
| Issue number | 7811 |
| Publication status | Published - 11 Jun 2020 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
The shear force along convergent plate boundary faults (megathrusts) determines the height of mountain ranges that can be mechanically sustained 1–4. However, whether the true height of mountain ranges corresponds to this tectonically supported elevation is debated 4–7. In particular, climate-dependent erosional processes are often assumed to exert a first-order control on mountain height 5–12, although this assumption has remained difficult to validate 12. Here we constrain the shear force along active megathrusts using their rheological properties and then determine the tectonically supported elevation using a force balance model. We show that the height of mountain ranges around the globe matches this elevation, irrespective of climatic conditions and the rate of erosion. This finding indicates that mountain ranges are close to force equilibrium and that their height is primarily controlled by the megathrust shear force. We conclude that temporal variations in mountain height reflect long-term changes in the force balance but are not indicative of a direct climate control on mountain elevation.
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In: Nature, Vol. 582, No. 7811, 11.06.2020, p. 225-229.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Megathrust shear force controls mountain height at convergent plate margins
AU - Dielforder, Armin
AU - Hetzel, Ralf
AU - Oncken, Onno
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2020, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.
PY - 2020/6/11
Y1 - 2020/6/11
N2 - The shear force along convergent plate boundary faults (megathrusts) determines the height of mountain ranges that can be mechanically sustained 1–4. However, whether the true height of mountain ranges corresponds to this tectonically supported elevation is debated 4–7. In particular, climate-dependent erosional processes are often assumed to exert a first-order control on mountain height 5–12, although this assumption has remained difficult to validate 12. Here we constrain the shear force along active megathrusts using their rheological properties and then determine the tectonically supported elevation using a force balance model. We show that the height of mountain ranges around the globe matches this elevation, irrespective of climatic conditions and the rate of erosion. This finding indicates that mountain ranges are close to force equilibrium and that their height is primarily controlled by the megathrust shear force. We conclude that temporal variations in mountain height reflect long-term changes in the force balance but are not indicative of a direct climate control on mountain elevation.
AB - The shear force along convergent plate boundary faults (megathrusts) determines the height of mountain ranges that can be mechanically sustained 1–4. However, whether the true height of mountain ranges corresponds to this tectonically supported elevation is debated 4–7. In particular, climate-dependent erosional processes are often assumed to exert a first-order control on mountain height 5–12, although this assumption has remained difficult to validate 12. Here we constrain the shear force along active megathrusts using their rheological properties and then determine the tectonically supported elevation using a force balance model. We show that the height of mountain ranges around the globe matches this elevation, irrespective of climatic conditions and the rate of erosion. This finding indicates that mountain ranges are close to force equilibrium and that their height is primarily controlled by the megathrust shear force. We conclude that temporal variations in mountain height reflect long-term changes in the force balance but are not indicative of a direct climate control on mountain elevation.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85086355456&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/s41586-020-2340-7
DO - 10.1038/s41586-020-2340-7
M3 - Article
VL - 582
SP - 225
EP - 229
JO - Nature
JF - Nature
SN - 0028-0836
IS - 7811
ER -