In combination with erosion by surface processes, tectonic processes play a key role in the evolution of landscapes. Tectonic processes act to build topography through long-term uplift, destroy topography though rapid events of earthquake-induced mass wasting, and reshape topography through horizontal deformation. Despite this fundamental understanding, our ability to extract tectonic signals from geomorphic indices is still unsatisfactory. Difficulties arise because we do not yet fully understand how different processes of erosion and sedimentation relate to climate variability and to the tectonic forcing itself. In addition, spatial distribution of lithologies and mechanical defects may mask the tectonic signal.
In this session, we hope to bring together (i) Theoretical studies that use various geomorphic indices for the extraction of tectonic signals from the coupled tectonic-climate-erosion system, (ii) Field studies that use geomorphic shapes and patterns and hints of pattern evolution to recover the tectonic history of a landscape over various length and time scales in localities where the climatic and geologic effects can be estimated and accounted for, and (iii) Numerical models and analogue experiments aiming at predicting landscape response to particular tectonic scenarios.


Solicited people:
Eric Kirby (The Pennsylvania State University)
Niels Hovius (GFZ-Potsdam)
Gareth Roberts (University of Cambridge)