High elevation of low-relief surfaces in mountain belts: does it equate to post-orogenic surface uplift?

Julien Babault (1) , Stéphane Bonnet (1) , Jean van den Driessche (1) , Alain Crave (1)

1 GR - Géosciences Rennes

We present experiments of upraising and relaxing topographies showing that peneplanation can occur above the ultimate base level (sea level). After active uplift, the erosion of a topography bounded by a piedmont generates a final smooth and highly elevated topography. Smoothing at high elevation is even possible during active uplift if the evolution of topography is disrupted by the deposition of the products of erosion on its piedmont which is the case at the transition from underfilled to overfilled conditions in foreland basins.

Domains: Geomorphology; Tectonics

Julien Babault, Stéphane Bonnet, Jean van den Driessche, Alain Crave. High elevation of low-relief surfaces in mountain belts: does it equate to post-orogenic surface uplift?. Terra Nova, 2007, 19 (4), pp.272-277. ⟨10.1111/j.1365-3121.2007.00746.x⟩. ⟨insu-00180028⟩