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Cooperation among tectonic and surface processes in the St. Elias Range, Earth's highest coastal mountains
Author(s) -
Enkelmann Eva,
Koons Peter O.,
Pavlis Terry L.,
Hallet Bernard,
Barker Adam,
Elliott Julie,
Garver John I.,
Gulick Sean P. S.,
Headley Rachel M.,
Pavlis Gary L.,
Ridgway Kenneth D.,
Ruppert Natalia,
Van Avendonk Harm J. A.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2015gl064727
Subject(s) - geology , tectonics , thermochronology , erosion , orographic lift , precipitation , climate change , tectonophysics , geomorphology , geophysics , seismology , earth science , oceanography , geography , meteorology
Investigations of tectonic and surface processes have shown a clear relationship between climate‐influenced erosion and long‐term exhumation of rocks. Numerical models suggest that most orogens are in a transient state, but observational evidence of a spatial shift in mountain building processes due to tectonic‐climate interaction is missing. New thermochronology data synthesized with geophysical and surface process data elucidate the evolving interplay of erosion and tectonics of the colliding Yakutat microplate with North America. Focused deformation and rock exhumation occurred in the apex of the colliding plate corner from > 4 to 2 Ma and shifted southward after the 2.6 Ma climate change. The present exhumation maximum coincides with the largest modern shortening rates, highest concentration of seismicity, and the greatest erosive potential. We infer that the high sedimentation caused rheological modification and the emergence of the southern St. Elias, intercepting orographic precipitation and shifting focused erosion and exhumation to the south.