The Indo-Australian Plate is actively deforming at its margins and within its interior. In south-central Australia, more than 3000 km from the closest active plate boundary, a geomorphically rugged and apparently youthful mountain range has developed, rising up to 1.1km above the adjacent flat-lying outback plains. These ‘Flinders’ and ‘Barrier’ Ranges are seismically active and bound by major reverse fault scarps with clear evidence for Plio-Quaternary displacements, implying that young and active intraplate tectonism has played a fundamental role in their development. Palaeoseismic investigations and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) chronology indicate faulting occurred in response to a series of large magnitude (~M6.6 to M7.3) palaeo-earthquakes with recurrence intervals of ~1:20,000 to~1:80,000 yrs and long-term fault slip rates of ~50 m Myr-1. Geomorphic observations and 10Becosmogenic nuclide dating indicate surprisingly high and spatially variable rates of bedrock erosion from fault-affected catchments in the Flinders Ranges. Slowly eroding bedrock summit surfaces have been uplifted up to 12 m in the last 60,000-100,000 years relative to more rapidly eroding valley floors and bounding piedmonts, indicating Late Quaternary increases in elevation and relief in response to intraplate tectonism and erosion. However, both facies changes and sediment aggradation-dissection cycles in alluvial fan sequences are out-of-synch within dividual tectonic events, indicating that an aspect of climate (aridification, changing flood frequency-magnitude distributions) has governed the spatial-temporal distribution of range front sedimentation.

Antarctic debris-covered glaciers are potential archives of long-term climate change. However, the geomorphic response of these systems to climate forcing is not well understood. To address this concern, I conducted a series of field-based and numerical modeling studies in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica (MDV), with a focus on Mullins and Friedman glaciers. I used data and results from geophysical surveys, ice-core collection and analysis, geomorphic mapping, micro-meteorological stations, and numerical-process models to (1) determine the precise origin and distribution of englacial and supraglacial debris within these buried-ice systems, (2) quantify the fundamental processes and feedbacks that govern interactions among englacial and supraglacial debris, (3) establish a process-based model to quantify the inventory of cosmogenic nuclides within englacial and supraglacial debris, and (4) isolate the governing relationships between the evolution of englacial /supraglacial debris and regional climate forcing. Results from 93 field excavations, 21 ice cores, and 24 km of ground-penetrating radar data show that Mullins and Friedman glaciers contain vast areas of clean glacier ice interspersed with inclined layers of concentrated debris. The similarity in the pattern of englacial debris bands across both glaciers, along with model results that call for negligible basal entrainment, is best explained by episodic environmental change at valley headwalls. To constrain better the timing of debris-band formation, I developed a modeling framework that tracks the accumulation of cosmogenic 3He in englacial and supraglacial debris. Results imply that ice within Mullins Glacier increases in age non-linearly from 12 ka to ~220 ka in areas of active flow (up to >> 1.6 Ma in areas of slow-moving-to-stagnant ice) and that englacial debris bands originate with a periodicity of ~41 ka. Modeling studies suggest that debris bands originate in synchronicity with changes in obliquity-paced, total integrated summer insolation. The implication is that the englacial structure and surface morphology of some cold-based, debris-covered glaciers can preserve high-resolution climate archives that exceed the typical resolution of Antarctic terrestrial deposits and moraine records.

Many passive margins experience pulsed exhumation events late in their history as a result of plate boundary distal geodynamic mechanisms or climatic events. The onset of late Cenozoic glaciation, often associated with enhanced rates of erosion, is one such possible cause of passive margin rejuvenation. However, along passive margins the effectiveness of Plio-Pleistocene glaciers at eroding the landscape may be limited by low tectonic rock uplift rates or as a result of erosionally inefficient cold based continental ice-sheets. In this dissertation the evolution of post-orogenic topography and the effect of glaciations on denuding landscapes along the North Atlantic Passive Margin, in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the western Scottish Highlands, was investigated. Background exhumation rates averaged over 106-7 yr timescale were determined using apatite (U-Th)/He thermochronology. To resolve whether or not a change in exhumation rate occurred coincident with glaciation these background exhumation rates were compared to magnitudes of erosion averaged over the glacially relevant 103-4 yr timescale using the in situ terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide 10Be. In chapter two, 106-7 yr timescale exhumation and burial histories across the western Scottish Highlands were determined. The results show that post-orogenic burial and exhumation is mostly a result of plate margin distal tectonic and magmatic factors that are variable across short distances (i.e., <100 km). In chapter three, patterns and magnitudes of erosion during glaciation and following deglaciation in the Scottish Highlands were investigated. The results indicate that polythermal glacial erosion denuded low elevation portions of the Scottish Highlands and preserved summits. This produced relief but did not significantly lower the maximum elevation of the landscape. Following deglaciation Scotland's sediment budget remains dominated by glaciogenic sediment. In the fourth chapter, magnitudes of background exhumation in the Presidential and Carter Ranges of the White Mountains, New Hampshire were compared to magnitudes of glacial erosion. The results indicate that most relief was produced prior to glaciation and that background exhumation rates in the Cenozoic are low (<0.01 mm yr-1). In the late-Cenozoic, cold- based glaciation prevented an acceleration of erosion in the White Mountains. The post- glacial sediment budget is made up of dominantly glaciogenic sediment. Overall, the main findings of this dissertation are; (1) post-orogenic burial, exhumation, and relief production are mainly the result of spatially heterogeneous plate margin distal vertical crustal motions; across passive margins covered by large continental ice sheets; (2) cold-based ice limits the magnitudes of late Cenozoic glacial erosion sediment budgets continue to be dominated by glaciogenic sediment, >10 ka after and (3) post-glacial deglaciation. / Ph. D.

This thesis develops a better knowledge of the extent and timing of glaciations in southern Argentina throughout the Quaternary. It provides a detailed understanding of successive major glacial outlet lobes in the Lago Pueyrredón valley. The glacial and glaciofluvial deposits in the valley, as elsewhere in the region, are extremely well-preserved and reflect punctuated glacial advances between ~ 1.1 Ma and ~ 17 ka. Several intermediate glaciations are undated, constrained by the limited time frame of radiocarbon age dating, the limited potential volcanic sites for K-Ar or 40Ar/39Ar age dating, and erosion and exhumation problems associated with cosmogenic-nuclide surface exposure ages on moraines. This thesis provides a new chronology for the mid-Quaternary glaciations based on methodological advances in cosmogenic-nuclide surface exposure age dating. This is done by deriving ages from glacial outwash terrace sediment and demonstrating their reliability. The work shows that for younger (i.e., last glacial) moraines, well-constrained ages can be derived from the common-practice of dating large boulders on the moraine surface. However, on older moraines, the ages so-derived become considerably scattered. This is interpreted to be caused primarily by boulder exhumation as a consequence of moraine erosion, resulting in shorter residence of some boulders at the surface relative to the moraine formation date. By contrast, glacial outwash surfaces in this area, if carefully chosen, can be shown to have undergone little aggradation or erosion, and thus have had long and consistent surface exposure since formation. Provided these surfaces can be stratigraphically linked with the glacial limits, they can provide good surface exposure ages. This has been convincingly confirmed in one location by a sequence of ages obtained from a 10Be concentration depth-profile which demonstrate the surface stability and lack of inherited nuclides. Using these methods, cosmogenic 10Be and 26Al surface exposure ages indicate successive major advances occurred at ~ 1.2 Ma, ~ 600 ka, ~ 260 ka and ~27 – 17.5 ka. These are correlated with global marine and ice core records.

Esta pesquisa teve como hipótese que as corridas de detritos são os principais processos responsáveis pela evolução do relevo da Serra do Mar (SP), esperando-se, portanto, uma relação direta entre as taxas de denudação a longo-termo mais elevadas e a maior magnitude das corridas de detritos, sendo esta fortemente controlada pela morfometria das bacias de drenagem. Acredita-se que as características morfométricas das bacias, por serem determinantes na dinâmica hidrológica das bacias de drenagem, são fundamentais para a compreensão da geração e da propagação de corridas de detritos em ambiente tropical úmido. Desta forma, o objetivo principal desta pesquisa foi verificar as relações existentes entre a magnitude das corridas de detritos, a morfometria das bacias e as taxas de denudação a longo-termo em relevo escarpado de margem passiva em ambiente tropical úmido, como a Serra do Mar. Para tanto, foram definidos os seguintes objetivos específicos: (i) avaliar o potencial de geração de corridas de detritos das bacias de drenagem; (ii) avaliar a relação entre a morfometria das bacias e a magnitude das corridas de detritos; (iii) discutir a evolução a longo-termo do relevo a partir das taxas de denudação em escala de bacia de drenagem e; (iv) avaliar a importância das corridas de detritos como os principais processos exógenos para a evolução do relevo em margens passivas de ambiente tropical úmido. Os procedimentos adotados para desenvolvimento da pesquisa foram (i) seleção das bacias de drenagens; (ii) amostragem de sedimento aluvial; (iii) mapeamento dos depósitos de corridas de detritos; (iv) aplicação dos índices morfométricos; (v) aplicação dos Índices Adimensionais para determinação do potencial de geração de corridas de detritos; (vi) preparação das amostras e análise da concentração de 10Be e; (vii) análise integrada dos resultados obtidos. As bacias possuem características morfométricas que lhes confere alta capacidade erosiva, conforme o elevado Índice de Rugosidade e Relação de Relevo. A partir da aplicação dos índices Adimensionais, as bacias classificadas com maior potencial de geração de corridas foram a Rio Claro 1 e a Massaguaçu. A identificação dos depósitos de corridas em superfície e a dimensão dos blocos subsidiaram a classificação de cinco bacias com maior magnitude e cinco com menor magnitude. As taxas de denudação médias a longo-termo variaram entre 10,9 m/My e 35,2 m/My, com média de 25 m/My. Observou-se que as variações litológicas e a rede de lineamentos estruturais pôde explicar melhor a distribuição das taxas, em detrimento das características morfométricas das bacias de drenagem. Acredita-se que as taxas de denudação elevadas para algumas bacias com menor magnitude indicaram que estes processos seriam os processos responsáveis pelo maior trabalho geomorfológico e, consequentemente, pela evolução a longo-termo da Serra do Mar (SP). / This research has the hypothesis that debris flows are the major processes related to landforms evolution of the Serra do Mar (SP), and we expected therefore a direct relationship between long-term denudation rates and higher magnitude debris flows events, which is strongly controlled by drainage basin morphometry. We believe that morphometric characteristics, fundamental to drainage basins hydrological dynamics, are determinant to debris flows initiation and propagation in humid tropical environments. Thus this research aims to verify the relationships between debris flows magnitude, basin morphometry and long-term denudation rates in escarped reliefs such as Serra do Mar. Therefore, specific goals are: (i) evaluate the potential to debris flows generation; (ii) evaluate the relationship between drainage basin morphometry and debris flows magnitude; (iii) discuss long-term landforms evolution from denudation rates at drainage basin scale and; (iv) evaluate the importance of debris flows like the main exogenous processes to landforms evolution in passive margins in humid tropical environment. The procedures adopted to the research development were: (i) selection of drainage basins; (Ii) alluvial sediment sampling; (Iii) mapping debris flows deposits; (Iv) application of morphometric parameters; (V) application of Dimensionless Indices to measure the potential to debris flow generation; (Vi) sample preparation and analysis of 10Be concentration; (Vii) integrated analysis of the results. The basins have morphometric characteristics which gives them high erosive power, as the high Ruggedness Index and Relief Ratio. From the Dimensionless Indices application, the basins classified with higher potential to debris flows generation were Rio Claro 1 and Massaguaçu. The identification of superficial debris flows deposits and boulders size subsidized the classification of five basins with higher magnitude and five with lower magnitude. Long-term denudation rates ranged between 10.9 m/My and 35.2 m/My, averaging 25 m/My. We observed that lithological variations, fractures and folds could explain better rates distribution, instead of morphometrics characteristics of drainage basins. We believe that high long-term denudation rates for some basins with lower magnitude indicates that such processes would be the main processes for the geomorphological work and consequently for the long-term evolution of the Serra do Mar (SP).

Esta pesquisa teve como hipótese que as corridas de detritos são os principais processos responsáveis pela evolução do relevo da Serra do Mar (SP), esperando-se, portanto, uma relação direta entre as taxas de denudação a longo-termo mais elevadas e a maior magnitude das corridas de detritos, sendo esta fortemente controlada pela morfometria das bacias de drenagem. Acredita-se que as características morfométricas das bacias, por serem determinantes na dinâmica hidrológica das bacias de drenagem, são fundamentais para a compreensão da geração e da propagação de corridas de detritos em ambiente tropical úmido. Desta forma, o objetivo principal desta pesquisa foi verificar as relações existentes entre a magnitude das corridas de detritos, a morfometria das bacias e as taxas de denudação a longo-termo em relevo escarpado de margem passiva em ambiente tropical úmido, como a Serra do Mar. Para tanto, foram definidos os seguintes objetivos específicos: (i) avaliar o potencial de geração de corridas de detritos das bacias de drenagem; (ii) avaliar a relação entre a morfometria das bacias e a magnitude das corridas de detritos; (iii) discutir a evolução a longo-termo do relevo a partir das taxas de denudação em escala de bacia de drenagem e; (iv) avaliar a importância das corridas de detritos como os principais processos exógenos para a evolução do relevo em margens passivas de ambiente tropical úmido. Os procedimentos adotados para desenvolvimento da pesquisa foram (i) seleção das bacias de drenagens; (ii) amostragem de sedimento aluvial; (iii) mapeamento dos depósitos de corridas de detritos; (iv) aplicação dos índices morfométricos; (v) aplicação dos Índices Adimensionais para determinação do potencial de geração de corridas de detritos; (vi) preparação das amostras e análise da concentração de 10Be e; (vii) análise integrada dos resultados obtidos. As bacias possuem características morfométricas que lhes confere alta capacidade erosiva, conforme o elevado Índice de Rugosidade e Relação de Relevo. A partir da aplicação dos índices Adimensionais, as bacias classificadas com maior potencial de geração de corridas foram a Rio Claro 1 e a Massaguaçu. A identificação dos depósitos de corridas em superfície e a dimensão dos blocos subsidiaram a classificação de cinco bacias com maior magnitude e cinco com menor magnitude. As taxas de denudação médias a longo-termo variaram entre 10,9 m/My e 35,2 m/My, com média de 25 m/My. Observou-se que as variações litológicas e a rede de lineamentos estruturais pôde explicar melhor a distribuição das taxas, em detrimento das características morfométricas das bacias de drenagem. Acredita-se que as taxas de denudação elevadas para algumas bacias com menor magnitude indicaram que estes processos seriam os processos responsáveis pelo maior trabalho geomorfológico e, consequentemente, pela evolução a longo-termo da Serra do Mar (SP). / This research has the hypothesis that debris flows are the major processes related to landforms evolution of the Serra do Mar (SP), and we expected therefore a direct relationship between long-term denudation rates and higher magnitude debris flows events, which is strongly controlled by drainage basin morphometry. We believe that morphometric characteristics, fundamental to drainage basins hydrological dynamics, are determinant to debris flows initiation and propagation in humid tropical environments. Thus this research aims to verify the relationships between debris flows magnitude, basin morphometry and long-term denudation rates in escarped reliefs such as Serra do Mar. Therefore, specific goals are: (i) evaluate the potential to debris flows generation; (ii) evaluate the relationship between drainage basin morphometry and debris flows magnitude; (iii) discuss long-term landforms evolution from denudation rates at drainage basin scale and; (iv) evaluate the importance of debris flows like the main exogenous processes to landforms evolution in passive margins in humid tropical environment. The procedures adopted to the research development were: (i) selection of drainage basins; (Ii) alluvial sediment sampling; (Iii) mapping debris flows deposits; (Iv) application of morphometric parameters; (V) application of Dimensionless Indices to measure the potential to debris flow generation; (Vi) sample preparation and analysis of 10Be concentration; (Vii) integrated analysis of the results. The basins have morphometric characteristics which gives them high erosive power, as the high Ruggedness Index and Relief Ratio. From the Dimensionless Indices application, the basins classified with higher potential to debris flows generation were Rio Claro 1 and Massaguaçu. The identification of superficial debris flows deposits and boulders size subsidized the classification of five basins with higher magnitude and five with lower magnitude. Long-term denudation rates ranged between 10.9 m/My and 35.2 m/My, averaging 25 m/My. We observed that lithological variations, fractures and folds could explain better rates distribution, instead of morphometrics characteristics of drainage basins. We believe that high long-term denudation rates for some basins with lower magnitude indicates that such processes would be the main processes for the geomorphological work and consequently for the long-term evolution of the Serra do Mar (SP).

Le Tianshan est une orogène intracontinentale de près de 2000 km de long. Cette chaîne accommode jusqu'à 40% de la convergence entre l'Inde et l'Eurasie, jouant ainsi un rôle fondamental dans l'évolution de la déformation en Asie. De plus, malgré cette déformation intense et ses hauts reliefs, sa topographie reste irrégulière avec de nombreux bassins intrachaîne préservés. Elle représente ainsi un cas remarquable pour l'étude des processus orogéniques dynamiques hors équilibre et constitue une zone clé pour l'étude de la déformation en Asie. Depuis le début du Pléistocène, une aridité prononcée a permis une préservation de nombreux marqueurs morphologiques. Ces marqueurs ont localement subi des déformations d'origine tectonique. Ainsi, la datation par isotopes cosmogéniques de ces marqueurs et la quantification du raccourcissement à l'origine de leur déformation, a permis de connaître précisément les vitesses de raccourcissements quaternaires de nombreuses structures actives au travers l'ensemble du Tianshan oriental. À cela s'ajoutent ponctuellement des études des vitesses de raccourcissement depuis le Néogène, basées sur la modélisation géométrique de strates syntectoniques. Ces mesures nous ont permis de mieux contraindre les taux de déformation sur les piémonts Nord et Sud de la chaîne mais également dans le bassin intrachaîne de Bayanbuluk. Sur la base de ces observations, je propose que les vitesses observées actuellement par les mesures GPS ne soient acquises par la chaîne que depuis ~150 à 200 ka. Nous démontrons aussi qu'au minimum 15% du raccourcissement est accommodé dans les parties internes de la chaîne. Je soutiens ainsi l'hypothèse que cette chaîne reste dans un stade de croissance immature et hors-équilibre / The Tianshan range is a 2000-km-long tectonically active mountain range. The Tianshan plays a major role in the India-Asia collision since it presently accommodates up to 40% of the total convergence between those two continents. Despite this intense deformation, the topography of the range shows series of high elevated range separated by flat intermountain basins. This range is therefore a remarkable case of example to study orogenesis processes and remains a key area to better understand how the deformation related to the India collision has been distributed through the Asian continent. Enhanced aridity since Pleistocene has moreover remarkably preserved alluvial terraces and fans which may have recorded the deformation enabling the quantification of the tectonic rates during the Quaternary period. Therefore, using Terrestrial Cosmogenic Nuclide we have dated several alluvial surfaces and analyzed their deformation using D.E.M. or high resolution DGPS measurements. Hence, in the eastern Tianshan we quantify the quaternary shortening rates across several structures located in the Northern and Southern foreland piedmonts but also within the range in the intermountain Bayanbuluk basin. Moreover, when possible we have also derived the Neogene shortening rates from geometric modeling of syntectonic strata. Our results highlight the recent acceleration of the eastern Tianshan since ~150-200 ka. We also show that a significant proportion (>15%) of the whole deformation is accommodated within the range while the remaining part is distributed between the different thin skin tectonic structure in the piedmonts. This result supports the hypothesis that the range is out of equilibrium and an in-building stage of deformation

No description available.

第22回名古屋大学年代測定総合研究センターシンポジウム平成21(2009)年度報告

Understanding spatial and temporal variations in strain accumulation and release along plate boundaries is a fundamental problem in tectonics. Short-term and long-term slip rates are expected to be equal if the regional stress field remains unchanged over time, yet discrepancies between modern geodetic (decadal time scale) slip rates and long-term geologic (10^3 to 10^6 years) slip rates have been observed on parts of the Pacific-North American plate boundary system. Contemporary geodetic slip rates are observed to be ~2 times greater than late Pleistocene geologic slip rates across the southern Walker Lane. I use a combination of GPS geodesy, detailed field geologic mapping, high-resolution LiDAR geodetic imaging, and terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide geochronology to investigate the observed discrepancy between long- and short-term slip rates. I find that the present day slip rate derived from GPS geodesy across the Walker Lane at ~37.5°N is 10.6 ± 0.5 mm/yr. GPS data suggest that much of the observed discrepancy occurs west of the White Mountains fault zone. New dextral slip rates on the White Mountains fault zone of 1.1 ± 0.1 mm/yr since 755 ka, 1.9 +0.5/-0.4 mm/yr since 75-115 ka, 1.9 +0.5/-0.4 mm/yr since 38.4 ± 9.0 ka, and 1.8 +2.8/-0.7 mm/yr since 6.2 ± 3.8 ka are significantly faster than previous estimates and suggest that slip rates there have remained constant since the middle Pleistocene. On the Lone Mountain fault I calculate slip rates of 0.8 ± 0.1 mm/yr since 14.6 ± 1.0 ka and 0.7 ± 0.1 mm/yr since 8.0 ± 0.5 ka, which suggest that extension in the Silver Peak-Lone Mountain extensional complex has increased dramatically since the late Pleistocene.